Read Time: 07 minutes

Synopsis

The Telangana High Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking to direct the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over allegations of posting a fake notice regarding the closure of hostels and messes at Osmania University in 2023.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy, presiding over the court, observed, "It is preposterous to assume that the Chief Minister of the State (respondent No.6) would personally handle Twitter for posting trivial and casual tweets.”

The petitioners, a group of students, filed the writ petition seeking relief against the inaction of the police in registering an FIR based on their complaints made on May 1, 2024, and subsequent representations. They argued that the police's failure to act was illegal and violated principles of natural justice, as well as Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The case stemmed from an incident on April 27, 2024, when boarders at Osmania University protested due to a shortage of water and electricity in the hostels. In response, the Chief Warden of Hostels and Messes issued a notice on March 18, 2024, informing students about the closure of hostels and messes from May 1 to May 31, 2024, citing severe summer conditions and resource shortages.

The petitioners' counsel argued that this notice became a topic of significant debate, highlighting the shortages in the city and the state. In response to the situation, CM Reddy allegedly directed the University Registrar to issue a show-cause notice to the Chief Warden for spreading misleading information. Subsequently, CM Reddy tweeted a notice dated May 12, 2023, regarding the closure of university hostels due to water and electricity shortages.

This tweet led to further controversy when Krishank Manne, a member of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), replied, claiming that the notice shared by the CM was fake and circulated the original notice dated May 12, 2023, which did not mention resource shortages but merely the summer vacation closure.

Following these events, the Chief Warden filed a complaint with the police on April 30, 2024, leading to the registration of Crime No. 207 of 2024 against Krishank and another student. Krishank was subsequently arrested and charged with forgery and spreading misinformation.

The petitioners alleged that the tweet by CM Reddy was an intentional attempt to mislead the public and demanded an FIR against him. However, the Additional Advocate General argued that the petitioners had no locus standi in the case and were attempting a retaliatory measure knowing about the existing case against Krishank. It was also contended that the notice shared by CM Reddy was genuine and had been forwarded by the Chief Warden to the police.

The court noted that the petitioners were not aggrieved parties and that a case had already been registered, making it the responsibility of the investigating officer to determine the authenticity of the documents in question. “Petitioners are not aggrieved persons and no prima facie case is made out to direct the Police officials to act on their complaints,” the court said.

The court concluded that the writ petition was misconceived and dismissed it, stating that the petitioners were free to pursue other legal remedies. "There shall be no order as to costs," the court held.

 

Cause Title: Chatari Dashrath v. The State of Telangana [WP No.14445 OF 2024]