BABER SIDDIQUI Vs. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner in the instant writ petition challenges the action of the second respondent herein in indicating the petitioner's name as a rowdy sheeter in a Press Note dated 27-2-2000 published in Urdu Daily newspapers on 27-2-2000.

(2.) The petitioner claims to be a respectable citizen of Hyderabad city. For some time he was the Chief Editor of Urdu Weekly 'Aaj Aur Kal'. It is stated that he was associated with more than one political party in the State of Andhra Pradesh. He is the founder General Secretary of "Sarhadi- Gandhi-International Socio-economic and Educational Society". He is aggrieved by the action of the second respondent herein in issuing the Press Note characterizing the petitioner as a rowdy sheeter. The press note was published in all leading Urdu Dailies on 27-2-2000. The news item reads as "Search of 24 absconded rowdy sheeters from, old city. Announcement of award for the informants: Absconded underground 165 rowdy sheeters." The petitioner's name is mentioned along with many other alleged rowdy sheeters.

(3.) The petitioner in his affidavit filed in support of the writ petition states that he is not involved in any criminal activity whatsoever and no case was ever registered against him except a crime for the offence under Sec.323 I.P.C. in the year 1983 while he was the President of Students Union of Dharmavanth Degree College. That criminal case has ended in acquittal in Crl. Rev. Petition No.14 of 1986, dated 13-2-1986. It is stated that the impugned police press note in daily newspapers had adversely affected the reputation of the petitioner in the society and causing considerable prejudice in the minds of the well-informed sections of the society. The action of the respondents is impugned in this writ petition.