HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court has quashed a history sheet opened in 2008 against a 35-year-old man from Talabkatta, holding that police powers to open and continue such sheets must be exercised strictly in accordance with the law.Justice N Tukaramji observed that its continuation must comply with safeguards prescribed under the AP police manual. “The police standing order stipulates that a history sheet may be opened against persons habitually involved in offences affecting public peace, but it cannot be continued indefinitely. The standing order also mandates that every history sheet shall be reviewed periodically to determine if its continuation is warranted,” the judge said.Holding that continuation of the history sheet was unsustainable in law, the court quashed it and directed the police to immediately remove the petitioner’s name from police records. The history sheet was opened at Mirchowk police station in 2008, citing the man’s involvement in seven cases. He approached the HC, stating that the sheet extended mechanically even after the cases ended in acquittal or compromise.
