Providing a much-needed shot in the arm to an increasingly beleaguered state government, the Supreme Court has stayed, until the 23rd of this month, the
A P High Court order to the state police to vacate the Osmania University campus, when the SC will hear the case next.
The apex court said that the home secretary should supervise the police presence on the campus, and that the students should not be treated roughly. It also said that it expects daily reports on the situation in the campus.
Over the past 3-4 days, the AP High Court has expressed criticism of the methods adopted by the AP police, and especially of Joint Commissioner Anjaneyulu, in using what it termed excessive violence in containing students at the campus, asking if the police were treating Telangana like Pakistan. It ordered the police to move out of the campus.
The police have also been under fire from journalists of all hue in the state, as is visible from any newspaper and any TV news bulletin, for beating up journalists at the campus on the 15th of the month. An ABN Andhra Jyothi journalist was allegedly particularly harrassed, and his bike torched, by RAF cops.
In this scenario, the SC judgement provides some relief to the state government and the state police against mounting criticism from all sides.