Telangana HC hears case on alleged negligence by Chaitanya Junior College
Hyderabad: Justice Juvvadi Sridevi of the Telangana High Court sought a plea seeking compensation of ₹2 crore from the state and education authorities in connection with the alleged negligence of a 17-year-old student during an exam conducted by Sri Chaitanya Junior College, Nallakunta, during an exam during the government-announced holiday. The judge was hearing the plea of 54-year-old Kukunuru Hanuman Srinivas, the student’s father, who claimed that his son, a second-year Secondary School student, collapsed and died on December 26, allegedly due to negligence and mismanagement by the college authorities.
Allegedly, despite the general holiday declared by the Telangana government for Boxing Day, the college conducted a “slip test” forcing students to attend school early in the morning. It was alleged that the student, who had a known heart condition, was repeatedly moved between the ground floor and the fourth floor after being given conflicting instructions regarding the exam hall, while the elevator services in the building were not working. The petitioner alleged that the student collapsed at his desk after extreme physical exertion and there was no trained staff to administer CPR or any ambulance facilities available, leading to a fatal delay in medical aid.
The student was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The father alleged that university officials ignored his son’s medical condition, failed to provide basic emergency care and allegedly deliberately discontinued elevator services to reduce operating costs. It was alleged that the authorities applied excessive academic pressure by conducting the test on a public holiday. The claim stated that a statement was made on January 3 to file a lawsuit against the university administration and provide compensation, but no response was received from the authorities. He blamed government officials for not monitoring the institution and failing to prevent such abuses. Petitioner’s lawyer Abdul Azam Khan argued that in an earlier case, the court had directed the Telangana Board of Secondary Education to evaluate the representation and submit a detailed report. The respondents sought time to file their answers and reports and the matter was accordingly remanded for further hearing.
Former sarpanch given respite in embezzlement case
Justice J. Sreenivas Rao of the Telangana High Court ordered stay of all criminal cases against a former sarpanch accused of misusing gram panchayat funds. The judge was dealing with a petition filed by Maheshwaram Sunitha, former sarpanch of Puppalguda, seeking quashing of a criminal case registered at Narsingi police station for offenses under Sections 409 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code. The case was initiated on a complaint filed by the division panchayat officer alleging misappropriation of gram panchayat funds during his tenure, following proceedings by district officials citing incomplete financial records. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the allegations were examined in the departmental and gram panchayat Court hearings, which determined a liability of Rs 23.68 lakh for non-production of records, without recording any finding of misconduct. It was stated that the amount in question was paid in January 2022.
The petitioner argued that the indictment was filed mechanically, without an independent investigation or material to establish the essential ingredients of the crime of breach of trust or fraud. It was submitted that the allegations concerned only procedural deficiencies in the keeping of records, without any element of malicious intent or personal gain attributable to the plaintiff, and that continuing the criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of the legal process. Taking into account the allegations, the court decided to postpone all further proceedings in the case and directed the state to seek further instructions.
Woman was released on bail in the case where her husband committed suicide
The Telangana High Court granted anticipatory bail to a woman accused of abetting her husband’s suicide case, holding that there was no prima facie evidence to prove the allegation that her behavior had driven the deceased to murder the deceased. The judge was dealing with the criminal complaint filed by the wife accused of an offense registered at Chatrinaka police station in Hyderabad. According to the prosecution, the complaint was made by the mother of the deceased, alleging that the applicant had a marital dispute with her son and that he had previously attacked her along with his relatives. It was alleged that the applicant constantly subjected the deceased to mental harassment, prevented him from seeing his children and maintained an illicit relationship, which led him to depression and suicide.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the allegations were false and did not explain the nature of abetment to suicide. It was also stated that the applicant was willing to cooperate with the investigation. The prosecution opposed the defense, stating that the accusations were serious and the investigation was ongoing.
The Court observed that the allegation mainly concerned the applicant’s refusal to allow the deceased to meet his children and that at this stage there was no evidence to prove the abetment acts attributed to him. Relief was granted and the penalty petition was accordingly allowed.
