Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has permitted a public meeting to be held at Pochamma Temple in Dilawarpur village of Nirmal district. The protesters will hold this meeting to voice their dissent over the proposal of an ethanol factory in the region. The court allowed this on a petition filed by Katikam Raja Reddy on behalf of farmers concerned about the environmental fallout from the project, reported The Telangana Today.
The petition was filed after the Sub-Divisional Police Officer refused permission for the gathering, citing a law that regulates public meetings to maintain peace and order.
During the court proceedings, Senior Counsel V. Raghunath, speaking on behalf of the farmers, explained that the meeting aimed to raise awareness about the potential dangers of the ethanol factory. He argued that the factory could pollute farmland and harm the environment, not only affecting current farmers but also putting future generations at risk. Raghunath also pointed out that farmers have been protesting with hunger strikes for 80 days, and denying them the right to gather violated their basic constitutional rights.
In defence of the factory, Senior Counsel P. Sri Raghuram, representing PMK Distillations Pvt Ltd, expressed concerns that the protest could lead to disturbances, referring to past incidents involving protests. He also noted that many villagers support the factory because of the jobs it promises to create. The Government Pleader backed the police’s decision, warning that the meeting could result in public unrest.
After hearing both sides, Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy allowed the meeting to go ahead under certain conditions. The organizers are required to submit a list of speakers and provide the number of participants. They must also ensure that no one with a criminal record is involved. The event is scheduled to take place on October 18 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The court also directed the police to maintain order and take action if any threats to public safety arise during the gathering.
