The High Court · 2025

Petition under Artide 226 of the Constitution of lndia praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a Writ, Order, or Directron, more particularly one in nature of Writ of MANDAMUS declaring the action of the Respondent No.1 and 2 in opening Rowdy Sheet of Jaipur PS against the Petitioner in violation of A.P Police Manual Standing Order No.601-A and Article 21 of Constitution of lndia, as bad in taw and illegal and consequently direct the Respondents No. 3 to 6 to take disciplinary action against Respondent No- 1 and 2 for misusing her office in opening Rowdy Sheet against petitioner and displaying flexies /photo of the Petitioner in the public places without any authority or power, in the lnterest of Jusiice. l.A. NO: 1OF 2017(WPMP. NO: 36505 OF 20171 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to suspend the opening of 'Rowdy Sheet" against the Petitioner under the jurisdiction of Police Station of Jaipur, Ma ncheriat/Adilabad District, in the interest of Justice, Pend ng Disposal of the Wrjt Petition. Counsel for the Petitioner: Ms. V.SWETHA REPRESENTED FOR Ms. BOKARO SAPNA REDDY, Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1,3 TO 6: AGP FOR HOME Counsel for the ResPondent No.2: - The Court made the following: ORDER L ,:r :l I : THE HON'BLE SRIJUSTICE N. TUKARAMJI WRIT PETITION No.29333 OF 2017 ORDER This Writ Petition is filed with the following relief: "Io lssue an appropriate Writ, Order or direction more pafticularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of respondent Nos.1 and 2 in opening 'Rowdy sheet of Japur P S" against the petitioner in violation of A.P Police Manual Standing Order No.601A and Article 21 of the Constitution of lndia of lndia, as bad in law and illegal and consequently direct the respondents Nos.3 to 6 to take disciplinary action against respondent lJos. 7 and 2 for misusing her office in opening "Rowdy Sheet aganst petitioner and displaying flexies/photo of the petlrcner in the public places without any authority or power. ...... .

2. Ms. V. Swetha, learned counsel appearing on behalf of learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that respondent Nos.1 and 2 have opened and continued a rowdy sheet against the petitioner in violation of Standing Order No.601-A of the A.P. Police Manual. She contends that the petitioner does not satisfy the criteria prescribed therein for either opening or maintaining such a sheet. Accordingly, she prays that the rowdy sheet be quashed 2

3.1 . Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home submits that a rowdy sheet was opened against the petitioner on 23 05.2O11 He states that the petitioner was involved in Crime Nos 119 ot2010,55 of2011, 19 of2011,128of2011, and Crime No.15 of 2021, which culminated in S C. No,3'1 of 2024. Except in Crime No.19 of 2011, wherein the petitioner was acquitted, the remaining cases have concluded; in one case the petitioner was convicted and sentenced to payment of fine.

3.2. He further submits that, apart from the above, the petitioner was also involved in Crime No. 128 of 2018, which is a bind-over case under preventive provisions. He contends that the respondent police authorities are maintaining the rowdy sheet to monitor the petitioner's movements, as he is allegedly a habitual offender. He therefore prays for dismissal of the revrsion.

4. lhave perused the material on record.

5. From the submissions of the respondent police, it is evident that subsequent to Crime No.19 of 201 1, the only matters involving the petitioner are a bind-over proceeding in 2018 and Crime No.'1 5 of 2021. Thus, as on date, only one criminal case appears to be pending against the petitioner.

6. Standing Order 601-A of the A.p. police Manual lays down the circumstances under which a rowdy sheet may be opened and maintained. The Standing Order contemplates, inter alia, that a rowdy sheet may be justified only when: (i) an individual is involved in more than two crimes of the nature specified therein, or (ii) the person's activities are such as to disturb public peace and tranquility, or (iii) the individual habitually commits, attempts, or abets the commission of offences affecting the public at large.

7. Courts have repeatedly held that opening and continuation of rowdy sheets amounts to subjecting a citizen to surveillance, which is permissible only when stricfly warranted and must not be exercised arbitrarily or mechanically, ln the present case, except for the bind-over proceeding in 2018, only one crime has been registered against the petitioner since 201 1. The respondent police do not contend, nor does the record indicate, that the petitioner's activities, either past or present, involve or have resulted in disturbance of public peace or tranquility, or that he is a habitual offender meeting the threshord under standing order 601-A. Mere pendency of a single crime/case or an isolated bind_ over proceeding does not, in raw, constitute sufficient material for \ ( 4 continuing a rowdy sheet, as held by this Court in similar circu mstances Therefore, in the absence of any contemporaneous criminal B activity. and with no material indicating that the petitioner poses a threat to public order or is habitually involved in offences' the continuance of the rowdy sheet cannot be lustified in law The requirements of Standing Order 601-A are thus not satisfied' and the petitioner's grievance merits acceptance ln the result, the petition is allowed The rowdy sheet 9. opened and maintained against the petitioner is hereby quashed' Therespondentpoliceauthoritiesaredirectedtoforthwithtakeall consequential steps to remove the petitioner's name from the rowdy sheeVregister No order as to costs Pending mtscellaneous applications, if any' shall stand closed That Rule Nisi has been made absolute as above' ukii:.,"t?i;E,11',1i3ll=.',J,Y"','l?'-3iff"1?iJ^''l$$'i,,lTf ll#"n'' S EENIVASA REDDY SI TANT REGISTRAR S //TRUE COPY// To .;:,'si' sJ#uil: "ffi :' #J :i"lsl?:i +x: ff +x! ";n!:l;,tg;"?: I;l'J"le"::, e, a ns a n a P o 1 2 3 SECTION OFFICER heriaUAdilabad District elangana Secretariat, lice, Telangana, Lakadi-ka-Pool, lt{[";tl*:I*ltf a[inrfigssfr l:":"ry"ft {.(si"},[trmnasar

7. Two CCs to GP FOR HOME, High Court for the State of Telangana' at Hyderabad. [OUT] 8- Two CD Copies I PSK/DAN. W HIGH COURT DATED:1411112025 / i t ORDER t i WP.No.29333 of 2017 'iF t S ri' o {r t 6 H !! ?i .sp^TC z h)I t ALLOWING THE WRIT PETITTON WITHOUT COSTS * v ).,