Telangana High Court orders police to help MBA aspirant retrieve educational certificates from grandmother’s house

The petition was filed by a couple and their daughter against the order of the revenue divisional officer (respondent no 3) to vacate their home in Papireddy Colony in 45 days. The family argued that the order was arbitrary and in violation of natural justice principles. The dispute pits them against the mother of one of the petitioners, who is the fifth respondent in the case, and presently resides in the same house.

During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel, B Srinivas Reddy, highlighted the immediate and pressing concern that the daughter’s educational certificates were inside the house, which she could not access. The certificates were essential for her to secure admission into a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.

In his ruling, Justice Venugopal acknowledged the immediate need for the educational documents, noting that the case’s complexities could not be resolved summarily. While remanding the main case to the appellate authority, the district collector, the judge issued a directive to ensure the student’s academic future was not jeopardised by the ongoing legal battle.

The court observed, “This Court deems it appropriate to direct respondent Nos. 3 and 4 to assist the writ petitioners to obtain the certificates and also the undisputed belongings of the petitioners from the house, which is in possession of respondent No. 5 (mother of the petitioner).”

The directive places the responsibility on the RDO (Respondent No. 3) and the station house officer (Respondent No. 4) to facilitate this retrieval and file a report before the district collector. The petitioners have been directed to pursue their appeal before the district collector, which must be adjudicated within 12 weeks.