High Court Takes Up PIL on Sensational Lockup Death
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday conducted an important hearing on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in connection with the alleged lockup death of Dalit woman Gangamma, a case that has triggered widespread outrage across the state. After examining the legal and medical aspects of the case, the court issued several significant directions considering the seriousness of the matter.
Medical Records Submitted in Sealed Cover
At the beginning of the hearing, the Superintendent of the Government Hospital submitted all medical records related to the treatment of Durgappa, a person linked to the case, in a sealed cover before the High Court. The bench carefully examined the documents.
During the proceedings, the counsel representing the victim’s family informed the court that Gangamma’s daughter was allegedly being intimidated and threatened.
Allegations of Intimidation Against Gangamma’s Daughter
The petitioner’s counsel argued that Lakshmi, Gangamma’s daughter, was living under fear due to alleged police pressure. It was also brought to the court’s attention that police personnel were reportedly preventing outsiders from entering her native village.
The family further requested the court to order a re-postmortem examination of Gangamma’s body, arguing that only a fresh forensic examination could help uncover the truth behind her death.
Court Questions Government on Cause of Death
During the hearing, the High Court bench posed several questions to the government counsel.
The court sought clarification on:
- How exactly did Gangamma die?
- What was mentioned as the cause of death in the postmortem report?
- Were there any injuries found on her body?
Responding to the queries, the government counsel informed the court that the postmortem report attributed Gangamma’s death to cardiac arrest along with certain other health-related complications.
High Court Orders Protection for Lakshmi
After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court issued important directions in the case.
The court ordered the police department to provide immediate and comprehensive security to Lakshmi, the daughter of the deceased. It also directed the authorities to place complete details of the investigation and the progress of the inquiry before the court during the next hearing.
Case Adjourned for Two Weeks
The High Court further adjourned the matter for two weeks and instructed the authorities to submit updated investigation records and all relevant details pertaining to the alleged lockup death before the next date of hearing.
The case continues to attract significant public and legal attention as questions surrounding the circumstances of Gangamma’s death remain under scrutiny.
