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Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh high court bars police from meddling in land disputes
Vijayawada: Stating that police have no authority to intervene in civil land disputes, Andhra Pradesh high court, in a strong rebuke to Visakhapatnam police, criticised the practice of summoning individuals involved in civil disputes for counselling under the so-called 'pre-litigation council forum (PLCF). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Y Lakshmana Rao ruled that land disputes fall strictly under the jurisdiction of civil courts, as per Sections 9 and 15 of the Civil Procedure Code, while emphasising that resolution mechanisms such as the state legal services authority, district legal services authorities, and mandal-level bodies are the only authorised platforms to mediate in such cases. The order came after a 74-year-old petitioner challenged Visakhapatnam police's repeated summons to attend PLCF sessions regarding a land case which was already under trial in a civil court. The petitioner, citing ill health and legal overreach, argued that police pressure was unlawful. The court sided with him, condemning the police for attempting to mediate in civil matters and warned that such actions only escalate disputes. The HC further ordered that police should not attempt to resolve civil disputes under any name or platform, including the PLCF. In similar cases, the high court also intervened in Prakasam and Palnadu districts after petitioners complained of police coercion to withdraw ongoing civil cases, including a property dispute and a financial recovery suit. The court directed local police not to pressurise citizens into withdrawing legally filed cases.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC not for trivial disputes, political parties told
Vijayawada : The high court on Tuesday criticised political parties in the state for approaching the court for every trivial dispute. In the last five-six years, political parties in the state have reduced the stature of the high court to the level of a second-class magistrate court, the HC bench observed. Taking serious note of a house motion petition filed seeking protection for councillors of Tiruvuru who wanted to participate in the election process, the high court warned that it would take punitive action against the police, starting from the constable to the DGP, if they are found to be at fault. At the same time, if the petitioners are found to be at fault, exemplary costs of Rs 10 lakh would be imposed, the HC stated. The petitioners' counsel stated that police were not providing any protection despite representations. Denying the allegations, the govt pleader stated that no representation was made as being claimed and police are not aware of the whereabouts of the petitioners. The representations given to the election commission were not enough according to the earlier orders of the high court, the govt pleader added. The counsel for the petitioners said the representation given to the election commission was forwarded to the commissioner of police. Justice Y Lakshmana Rao said everyone is taking the system for a ride. Directing the Vijayawada police commissioner to provide protection to the petitioners, Justice Lakshmana Rao warned that if the petitioners resorted to any wrongdoing by taking advantage of the protection, contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against them.
