Stifling Dissent

KCR brings in a draconian law, bypasses courts to penalise offenders

- Amarnath K. Menon

On January 25, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao endorsed a controversial decision allowing the Telangana police to register criminal cases for verbal abuse without judicial sanction, and even when no complaint has been filed. The state government has identified misdemeanours under Section 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and Section 507 (criminal intimidation through anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code as nonbailable offences that can be investigated without the court’s permission. Penalties under both sections include two to seven year jail terms and cash fines. Existing provisions that make it mandatory for police to seek judicial approval before registering cases have been done away with.