The Hyderabad High Court has directed the Superintendent of police, Suryapet district, to submit a report regarding allegations that some police officers prevented a ward councillor from Suryapet Municipality from hoisting the National Flag on August 15.
The petitioner, identified as Mohammed Shaheen Begum, is a ward councillor from the Congress, and asked the court to take action against a deputy police superintendent, four circle inspectors and a sub inspector.
The Times of India quoted Shaheen Begum's counsel saying that on August 15, as she was headed to participate in a flag hoisting function, the police intercepted the councillor and her husband and detained them for over two hours in two separate police stations.
The counsel also alleged that the police used objectionable language and claimed that 'Muslims were anti-national'.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that the petitioner urged the court to declare that the right to fly the National Flag freely with due respect as a fundamental right of every citizen as per the Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution.
She also asked the court to issue orders to the Telangana DGP, to take action against the police officers involved, for targeting her, because of her religion.
The court issued notices to the police authorities and sought their response within four weeks.
This case comes up even as the state government in Uttar Pradesh insisted that all madrassas in the state will have to compulsorily hoist the national flag and sing the national anthem on Independence Day.
Photography and videography of these events was also made mandatory so that the compliance is monitored by the state.
IANS inputs