The Supreme Court Today (Oct 4) lamented that the Telangana government has not been offering proper assistance to the Court during criminal case hearings. A Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti expressed its sentiments in this regard today to the State’s Director General of Police (DGP), who was present virtually. The Court had directed the Telangana DGP to appear before it after the State counsel could not answer basic queries during an earlier hearing of a criminal case.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court expressed its displeasure with the Telangana government’s inadequate support during criminal case hearings. A Bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti conveyed their dissatisfaction directly to the State’s Director General of Police (DGP), Dr. Jitender, who appeared virtually before the Court.
The DGP had been summoned after the State counsel failed to provide basic answers in a previous hearing related to a criminal case.
Justice Bhatti openly voiced the Court’s frustration, saying,
“I must tell you that we are not getting proper assistance from your State in criminal matters, this is the default situation.”
Justice Roy added,
“Such a phenomenon is being seen repeatedly in (matters concerning) Telangana.”
Background: Criminal Case of BSP Leader Vatti Janaiah Yadav
The Court was hearing a plea filed by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Vatti Janaiah Yadav, who was previously a member of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Yadav alleged that he faced criminal persecution from the BRS-led Telangana government after switching political parties.
Last year, the Supreme Court had sought a response from the Telangana government and granted Yadav interim protection from arrest in connection with 13 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed against him.
During a hearing earlier this week, the Court noticed discrepancies in the prosecution’s and State counsel’s submissions, particularly concerning the filing date of the chargesheet. These inconsistencies prompted the Court to summon the DGP for clarification.
Supreme Court Questions Telangana DGP on Lapses
During Friday’s hearing, the Court questioned the DGP on the inconsistencies in the State’s arguments and who should be held accountable for the errors.
“Who is at fault? Your officers or the State? What action have you initiated?”
-Justice Bhatti asked, demanding an explanation for the lack of coordination.
Justice Roy further remarked that the Court’s previous order had been framed politely, despite the severity of the situation. He stressed that the State’s lapses had left the Court deeply concerned.
Justice Bhatti pointed out that the required information regarding chargesheets is typically accessible “at the click of a button.”
He questioned how the situation had gone wrong, adding-
“We do not want to make it seem after hearing the DGP online that we are satisfied and closing the matter. Let him file an affidavit.”
In response, DGP Jitender assured the Court that such lapses would not recur.
“We will see that such lapses do not happen in the future. The officer concerned, we will definitely take action, sirs. We will take action and hold accountable,”
-he said.
Court’s Displeasure with DGP’s Response
However, the Bench was unimpressed by the DGP’s assurances. Justice Bhatti criticized the DGP’s response as inadequate, saying,
“What about present lapse? What action? You are just repeating from the book.”
Justice Roy emphasized the need for a clear affidavit from the DGP, detailing the lapses already observed by the Court.
The Court directed the DGP to file the affidavit and excused him from attending future hearings in person, for the time being.
The next steps in the case hinge on the affidavit’s contents and how the State addresses the lapses brought to light by the Court.
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