HYDERABAD: The High Court on Wednesday directed the Telangana state principal secretary to home and Hyderabad city police commissioner to file their counter-affidavits in the petition filed by Kathi Mahesh, a film critic, challenging the externment order issued against him by the police on July 8 this year. The order banned him from entering the city for a period of six months under the Telangana prevention of anti-social and hazardous activities Act, 1980.
Justice A Rajasheker Reddy was passing this order in a petition by Kathi Mahesh seeking to set aside the impugned order. The petitioner’s counsel told the court that the police did not give an opportunity to reply to the notice issued to the petitioner and was forcibly taken to Bengaluru violating the principles of natural justice. In fact, the police issued the externment order by violating the fundamental rights of the petitioner. The police have no power to issue such an order, he argued.
On the other hand, the government counsel submitted that the petitioner had made derogatory remarks against Lord Rama and thereby offended the religious sentiments of a particular community. As there was a threat to the law and order situation, the police issued the externment order, he added.
After hearing both sides, the judge issued notices to the respondents - principal secretary to home, city police commissioner and others concerned for filing their counter affidavits on the issue, and adjourned the case by three weeks.