Vijayawada: Stating that police have no authority to intervene in civil land disputes, Andhra Pradesh high court, in a strong rebuke to Visakhapatnam police, criticised the practice of summoning individuals involved in civil disputes for counselling under the so-called ‘pre-litigation council forum (PLCF). Justice Y Lakshmana Rao ruled that land disputes fall strictly under the jurisdiction of civil courts, as per Sections 9 and 15 of the Civil Procedure Code, while emphasising that resolution mechanisms such as the state legal services authority, district legal services authorities, and mandal-level bodies are the only authorised platforms to mediate in such cases.The order came after a 74-year-old petitioner challenged Visakhapatnam police’s repeated summons to attend PLCF sessions regarding a land case which was already under trial in a civil court. The petitioner, citing ill health and legal overreach, argued that police pressure was unlawful. The court sided with him, condemning the police for attempting to mediate in civil matters and warned that such actions only escalate disputes. The HC further ordered that police should not attempt to resolve civil disputes under any name or platform, including the PLCF.In similar cases, the high court also intervened in Prakasam and Palnadu districts after petitioners complained of police coercion to withdraw ongoing civil cases, including a property dispute and a financial recovery suit. The court directed local police not to pressurise citizens into withdrawing legally filed cases.
