Telangana HC Directs DGP to Identify Cops Accused of Misbehaving With BRS Women MLAs

The direction came while hearing a petition filed by the BRS over the September 7 incident, when party legislators wearing black T-shirts with slogans were stopped while attempting to enter the Assembly premises on the opening day of the Monsoon Session.

According to the BRS legal team, the court has asked the DGP to identify the police officials involved and provide their details to Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. The court observed that the Speaker has the authority to take action against officials under the rules governing the legislature.

The confrontation outside the Assembly had escalated into a heated exchange between BRS legislators and police personnel. The opposition party alleged that several of its women MLAs were manhandled during the incident. The High Court had previously questioned the police action and directed that legislators should not be prevented from entering the Assembly, observing that any violation of House rules should be dealt with by the Speaker.

During the proceedings, counsel representing the petitioners alleged that one woman MLA had her saree pulled during the confrontation, while another woman legislator, identified as a former Home Minister, was allegedly held by the neck. The counsel also claimed that some male legislators wearing black T-shirts were manhandled and suffered injuries.

The petitioner's counsel argued that police did not have the authority to prevent elected legislators from entering the Assembly. If the legislators had violated any House rules through their attire or conduct, the counsel maintained, the matter should have been handled by the Speaker rather than the police.

The confrontation subsequently spilled into the Assembly, where BRS legislators raised the issue of alleged police action against their women colleagues. The party sought action against the police officials and pressed for the matter to be taken up by the House.

At the same time, police registered cases against BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao, BRS Deputy Leader in the Telangana Assembly T. Harish Rao and other party legislators. The cases relate to allegations including obstruction of women police personnel in the discharge of their duties, abusive language and threats.

The BRS has alleged that no cases were registered on its complaints regarding the alleged manhandling of its women MLAs. The party subsequently approached the National Commission for Women and the National Human Rights Commission and also submitted a representation to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla seeking intervention for an impartial inquiry.

The latest High Court direction places the identification of the police personnel involved with the DGP, with the details then expected to be submitted to the Assembly Speaker for any action considered appropriate under legislative rules.

The dispute has added another layer to the tensions that marked the opening days of the Telangana Assembly's Monsoon Session, which also saw the suspension of 22 BRS MLAs following disruptions inside the House.