Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court on Wednesday reprimanded Guntur mayor Kavati Manohar Naidu for using abusive language on social media to criticise political opponents.
The high court stated that such language is not acceptable in a democratic country.
“The first citizen of the city should be a role model to others, not like this. This is nothing but a misuse of democracy. Is this the language of the first citizen of the city? This is not acceptable,” said Justice BVLN Chakravarthy.
Manohar Naidu approached the the high court seeking to quash the case registered by Arundalpet police following a complaint by TDP functionary Kanaparti Srinivasa Rao. He alleged that Manohar Naidu attacked TDP workers, who were peacefully protesting and abused deputy chief minister K Pawan Kalyan and Nara Lokesh using filthy language. He also mentioned alleged derogatory posts by Manohar Naidu on social media and the language used in electronic media.
After reviewing the petition and the response filed by the govt pleader, the high court expressed anger over the language used by Manohar Naidu. “Political parties should confine themselves to criticising each other’s policies and should not resort to abusing mothers and family members of others with filthy language. Politicians should win the mandate of the people by serving them, not with this kind of language,” said Justice Chakravarthy.
The high court further asked Manohar Naidu to refrain from making such statements and to behave responsibly. As all sections included in the case are punishable with a jail term of below seven years, the high court directed the police to follow the Supreme Court guidelines by issuing notices under section 41A CrPC and to file a counter affidavit in the matter. The high court further directed Manohar Naidu to cooperate with the police in the investigation and posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks.
