Abdul Saleem vs The State Of Telangana & Ors.

This Writ Petition is filed seeking a direction to the respondents to close and remove the name of the petitioner from the rowdy sheet dated 28.06.2002 maintained on the file of Bodhan Police Station, Nizamabad District, and consequently, to direct the respondents not to call the petitioner to the police station and harass him.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri M. Srinivas, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for respondents No.1 to 5.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that a rowdy sheet was opened against the petitioner on the ground that Crime No.152 of 2002 was registered against him on 28.06.2002 on the file of Bodhan Police Station for the offence punishable under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code. It is submitted that the said case was subsequently compromised before the Lok Adalat and was closed on 26.04.2003. However, the rowdy sheet has continued against the petitioner even thereafter. It is further submitted that the petitioner made several oral requests to the respondent-police for closure of the rowdy sheet and, as no action was taken thereon, the petitioner submitted a written representation dated 25.06.2026 through post. As no action was taken even on the said representation, the present Writ Petition has been filed.

Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home has furnished a copy of the written instructions received by him and submitted that the rowdy sheet was opened on account of Crime No.152 of 2002 and that the said case was subsequently compromised before the Lok Adalat and closed on 26.04.2003. It is further submitted that the rowdy sheet has been continued having regard to the antecedents of the petitioner and the apprehension amongst the public.

Having considered the rival submissions and the material available on record, this Court finds that no specific reason has been placed before this Court to justify the continued retention of the petitioner's name in the rowdy sheet for the past 23 years, when the criminal case which formed the basis for opening the rowdy sheet was compromised before the Lok Adalat and was closed on 26.04.2003. The rowdy sheet has thus continued for more than two decades after closure of the said case. Mere reference to the antecedents of the petitioner and apprehension amongst the public, without placing any specific material or circumstances warranting such continued surveillance, cannot, by itself, justify continuation of the rowdy sheet for such a prolonged period. Accordingly, the respondents are directed to close the rowdy sheet maintained against the petitioner forthwith. The respondent-police shall also not call the petitioner to the police station hereafter in connection with the said rowdy sheet. However, this order shall not preclude the respondent-police from taking action against the petitioner in accordance with law, if any fresh complaint or cognizable offence is reported against him.

With the above observations and directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No order as to costs.

Miscellaneous applications, if any, pending shall stand closed.