HYDERABAD: Stating that he was pleasantly surprised by the unusually quick response from Hyderabad police for putting in place better arrangements and mechanism to keep Omicron away during the ongoing New Year events, Justice B Vijaysen Reddy of Telangana high court on Thursday said he would review the efficacy of the police measures on January 6.
The judge on Wednesday sought a reply from the state government and police on the arrangements they were making to rein in noisy pubs and unruly mobs in this season which was caught between celebrations on one hand and Omicron fears on the other.
When the matter reached hearing on Thursday, T Srikanth Reddy, counsel for the home department, placed before the judge an official communication sent by the Hyderabad police commissioner that described the elaborate arrangements made by cops.
Stating that priority must be given to precautions than to pubs and celebrations, the judge said the arrangements made by police at pubs and various other places were seemingly good. Justice Vijaysen Reddy was hearing a petition filed by Suryadevara Venkata Ramana of Jubilee Hills Residents Association who complained against the loud noises coming from the pubs in residential areas and the inaction of the authorities in controlling them. “We made it clear that noise should not come out of the pubs during the permitted hours. If these pubs equip themselves with acoustic equipment that prevents sound from going out of the pub, then it is ok”, said Srikanth.
Petitioner’s counsel PS Rajasekhar wanted the court to direct the state to keep towing vehicles at all pubs where the vehicles parked irregularly can be towed away. Designated drivers should be kept ready to shift the drunk customers instead of allowing them to drive dangerously, he said.
The state allowing people to drink till 1 am too has its own problems. Moreover, all arrangements should not be confined to New Year’s day alone. They must be there permanently so that the lives of residents of Jubilee Hills areas witness some relief from the unbearable sounds from the neighboring pubs, he said.
Srikanth reminded the court that the petitioner’s grievance was against the state excise department which was not made a party to this case. The judge asked the petitioner to make excise department a respondent to the plea. “The efforts of police are good. Let us appreciate this first and examine the implementation later,” the judge said and adjourned the case.
