IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE E.V.VENUGOPAL WRIT PETITION No.2668 of 2026 Date: 10.02.2026 Between:

Shaik Salman @ Salman ..Petitioner And The State of Telangana, rep. by its Principal Secretary for Home Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad and four others ..Respondents

ORDER

This Writ Petition is filed seeking the following relief:-

“to issue a Writ or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondent No.5 in opening and maintaining rowdy sheet against the petitioner as illegal, arbitrary and violation of Article 14, 19 (1) (e) and 21 of the Constitution of India. Consequently direct the respondent No.5 to close the rowdy sheet which has been maintaining against the petitioner and pass…”

2. Heard Mr.Mohammed Nabeel Ali, learned counsel representing Mr.Mohd. Muzarerullah Khan, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri M.Srinivas, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for the respondents. Perused the record.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is working as Driver and he is having lot of respect in the locality. In the year, 2013, a case in Crime No.235 of 2013 was registered against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 364, 201, 120-B read with Section 34 of I.P.C. and after completion of investigation, charge sheet was filed, which was numbered as C.C.No.475 of 2014 and after full-fledged trial he was acquitted by the learned IV Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Cyberabad at L.B.Nagar, Ranga Reddy District vide judgment, dated 27.02.2020. In the year 2014, a case in Crime No.85 of 2013 was registered against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 380, 354, 427 and 324 of I.P.C., and subsequently, the same was quashed in terms of the compromise. Learned counsel would further submit that, in the year, 2018 a case in Crime No.208 of 2018 was registered against the petitioner for the offences punishable under Sections 302 and 201 of I.P.C. After completion of investigation, charge sheet was laid and the same was numbered as S.C.No.302 of 2021 and the said case is now pending before the I Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad. The main grievance of the petitioner is that as on today, there is only one case pending against the petitioner herein. However, without considering the said fact and also the procedure laid down under the A.P.Police Manual, the respondents have issued the above said rowdy sheet against the petitioner herein and they are continuing the same which is arbitrary, illegal and also contrary to the principles laid down by the Hon’ble Apex Court and this Court in catena of decisions. Learned counsel would further submit that under the guise of opening and continuation of rowdy sheet, the respondents-police are calling the petitioner to the police station and harassing him by making him to wait in the police station for hours together. With the said submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner sought a direction to the respondents to close the above said rowdy sheet opened against the petitioner.

4. A counter affidavit is filed by respondent No.4 stating that, in view of the involvement of the petitioner in three cases, a rowdy sheet vide C.No.765/OW/ACP-STN/2019, dated 14.06.2019 was opened against him. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, on instructions, would submit that, as of now only one case is pending against the petitioner and he also seeks to pass appropriate orders.

5. Maintenance of rowdy sheets is governed by Standing Order No.601 of A.P. Police Manual, Part-I, Volume II, which reads as under:

“601. The following persons may be classified as rowdies and Rowdy Sheets (Form 80) may be opened for them under the orders of the SP/DCP and ACP/SDPO.

A. Persons who habitually commit, attempt to commit or abet the commission of offences involving a breach of the peace, disturb