Telangana High Court quashes cases against OU professor Kaseem

The Telangana High Court on Friday quashed two criminal cases registered against Osmania University professor C. Kaseem three years ago.

The FIRs were issued against the professor for convening and participating in a demonstration before the College of Arts and Social Sciences on OU campus in February, 2023. The demonstration was held urging the government to fill up the vacant posts in the university.

The then university authorities issued circulars prohibiting demonstrations on the campus premises. The OU police booked cases for violation of the orders given by the university officials. Professor Kaseem, who is presently the Principal of the Arts College, filed criminal petitions in the HC seeking a direction to set aside the FIRs.

Advocate Rahul, appearing for the professor, contended that section 188 of Indian Penal Code invoked against the professor came under the gambit of section 195 of Criminal Procedure Code. As per section 195 of Cr.P.C., the university Registrar should have specifically lodged complaint with the local magistrate for violation of the orders not to hold demonstrations on the campus.

This procedure was not followed in the case, the lawyer argued. Justice N. Tukarmaji of the HC, after hearing contentions of the government and the petitioner counsels, quashed the cases holding that the procedural mandate under section 195 was not followed.