Hyderabad: Telangana High Court came down heavily on the police department for repeatedly intervening in civil matters and converting police stations into “settlement hubs”, in violation of court orders and established legal procedures.
Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar, during a hearing on a civil dispute, remarked that police stations across the State were functioning more as negotiation centres than law enforcement institutions. He said the practice of bypassing courts and the law had worsened since the formation of Telangana and warned that such conduct would not be tolerated.
The court was hearing a petition filed by one Sudarshan, who alleged that police at Nagole station were pressuring him to pay ₹55 lakh to real estate agents to settle a dispute regarding Plot No. 65 in Bandlaguda Krishnanagar. The petitioner claimed both civil and criminal cases were being used as leverage by police to force a monetary settlement.
Justice Vinod Kumar summoned the Rachakonda Commissioner of Police, Sudheer Babu, who appeared virtually, while the Nagole Circle Inspector appeared in person. The judge pulled up the officials for detaining the landowner in the station from morning till evening, indicating that preliminary evidence showed wrongful confinement. The court directed the submission of CCTV footage from 9 am to 10 pm on June 19 and adjourned the case to next week.
The judge cited personal experiences to highlight systemic issues, recalling being treated negligently during a visit to a police station in his personal capacity. He also referred to witnessing an officer assaulting a civilian on the road, noting that such conduct reflects the broader plight of ordinary citizens.
The High Court stated that police officers had no authority to override injunction orders issued by courts and should not interfere in civil property matters under any pretext. It instructed the Director General of Police to review current practices and issue clear directives barring such interventions.
The court directed that these guidelines be uploaded on the official police website and displayed at all police stations. It also urged that visible disciplinary action be taken against those involved in settlements inside police stations to send a message across the force.
Further, the bench reminded that investigation must not be used as a pretext for sidestepping legal boundaries and said that the practice of converting police stations into “settlement centres” cannot be allowed to continue. The court compared the expectations set by the Telangana police with on-ground practices and said there was a wide and troubling gap.
