The High Court on Thursday asked the state government how it could regulate the speeches at the proposed APNGOs meeting at LB Stadium here on September 7.
Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao was dealing with a petition moved by T Sriranga Rao, an advocate of the city, and another person seeking cancellation of the permission granted by the police to the APNGOs Association for holding a public meeting on September 7.
Petitioner’s counsel Gandra Mohan Rao said the APNGOs, in collusion with politicians and others from Seemandhra region, have hatched a plan to cause disturbances in the city and the permission granted by the city police has paved the way for the same.
Contrary to the conditions for permission, a call was given by the APNGO president urging Seemandhra people to participate in the public meeting in large numbers.
It is learnt that a large number of anti-social elements from Vijayawada and Rayalaseema areas are being brought to the city to create terror and shatter the peaceful atmosphere, he alleged.
The petitioner’s counsel pointed out that the city police commissioner issued a notification on September 3 prohibiting public meetings among other things till September 10. But on September 4, the central zone DCP has granted permission for the APNGOs public meeting contrary to the notification issued earlier.
The counsel further said the purpose for which the meeting is being held is basically political in nature and the AP Civil Services (conduct) Rules prohibit employees from participating in such political activity. He said a political party (Congress) took a decision to bifurcate the state and the present meeting is being held to pressurise the state and Central governments not to take further steps to implement this decision.
Intervening, the judge remarked how the employees, who are drawing salaries from the government treasury, could participate in strikes protesting against political issues?
The petitioners’ counsel requested the court to intervene by setting aside the permission and to restrain the APNGOs from holding the meeting at LB Stadium on Saturday.
Justice Ramamohana Rao asked the government pleader to explain the steps taken by the police to ensure that only employees attend the meeting and the arrangements to meet any eventuality.
In reply, pleader Janakiram Reddy said the police have granted permission to the meeting with a condition that only employees with valid identity cards will be allowed. The police have taken all measures to avert any untoward incident, he said.
The judge then asked how the police would regulate the speeches by the outsiders who were invited to address the employees at the meeting? Have the police taken any steps to see that politicians do not address the meeting? he asked.
The government pleader said the court may impose such a condition if it so pleases.
After recording the arguments, the judge adjourned the case to Friday.
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