Telangana HC allows RTC meeting on Oct 30

Justice T Vinod Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the police authorities to permit the TSRTC union to hold a meeting between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on October 30, but with conditions. 

The judge, disposing of a writ petition filed by Ashwathama Reddy, convenor of TSRTC JAC, complaining that the government was not permitting it to conduct its meeting, imposed various conditions on the JAC, including an undertaking of responsibility from the petitioner for any untoward incident or violence that may occur.

He further imposed conditions that there shall not be any procession or mike announcements nor should there be any speeches of hatred or sedition. The judge also restricted the number of



speakers to five with one more in case any speaker is absent. Justice Vinod Kumar also made it clear that there shall be no movement of groups of more than two persons, and that the police authorities will be permitted to cover the meeting with CCTV footage. If persons involved in crime, against whom non-bailable warrants are pending execution or who are absconding or jumped bail bond, are found attending the meeting, the police are permitted to take them into custody.

The judge also granted time to the State to respond with terms it would suggest. Earlier, the judge pointed out that by scuttling the voice of citizens, democracy will not survive. “Be open to criticism”, Justice Vinod Kumar said.