The Andhra Pradesh High Court has deferred a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that demanded a judicial investigation into the controversial encounter killings of Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, his wife Raje alias Rajakka, and four other individuals. The incident occurred near Maredumilli in the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district.
Petition Seeks Independent Judicial Probe
The PIL was filed by Jaya Vindhyala, the national president of the People's Union for Civil Liberties and Human Rights Forum (PUCLHRF). The petition strongly argued against a standard magisterial inquiry, labeling it as insufficient for this case. Representing the petitioner, counsel Challa Srinivas Reddy presented a startling claim before the court. He alleged that Madvi Hidma and the others were actually captured in Vijayawada on November 15 and were killed three days later in the Maredumilli encounter. Reddy insisted that only a comprehensive judicial inquiry could uncover the full truth behind these events.
Advocate General Cites Legal Hurdles
The state's Advocate General, Dammalapati Srinivas, opposed the petition on legal grounds. He argued that the PIL was not maintainable as an alternative legal remedy was already available. The Advocate General pointed to a relevant Supreme Court ruling, stating that any objections to a magisterial inquiry should first be raised before the sessions court judge. This legal objection formed the core of the state's defense against the demand for an immediate judicial probe.
Court's Directive and Adjournment
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Challa Gunaranjan heard arguments from both sides. After considering the submissions, the bench directed the petitioner's counsel to thoroughly study the Supreme Court judgment cited by the Advocate General. Consequently, the court adjourned the matter for further hearing to next week, postponing a decision on the crucial demand for an independent judicial investigation.
The case highlights ongoing legal and human rights debates surrounding encounter killings in conflict zones. The outcome of next week's hearing will be closely watched, as it will determine whether a higher-level judicial probe will be ordered to examine the circumstances leading to the deaths of the six individuals.
