The Telangana High Court on Friday quashed two criminal cases registered against Osmania University professor C. Kaseem three years ago.
FIRs were issued against the professor for calling and participating in a demonstration in front of the College of Arts and Social Sciences on the OU campus in February 2023. The demonstration was held calling on the government to fill vacancies in the university.
The university authorities of the time issued circulars prohibiting demonstrations on the campus premises. OU police have registered cases for violating regulations issued by university officials. Professor Kaseem, who is currently the principal of an arts academy, filed criminal petitions in the HC seeking directions to stay the FIRs.
Advocate Rahul, appearing for the professor, argued that Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code brought against the professor falls under the gambit of Section 195 of the Penal Code. Under Section 195 Cr.PC, the university registrar was specifically supposed to file a complaint with the local magistrate for violation of the no-demonstration order in the campus.
This procedure was not followed in the case, argued the lawyer. Justice N. Tukarmaji of the HC, after hearing the objections of the government and the petitioner’s counsel, quashed the cases, saying that the procedural mandate under Section 195 was not followed.
Published – 20 Feb 2026 21:28 IST