Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Women, students stage protest at court complex

Staff Reporter

Banners seeking capital punishment to Manohar displayed

DAY OF JUDGMENT: Curious crowd in the court compound before the verdict was pronounced in the Sri Lakshmi murder case in Vijayawada on Thursday.

VIJAYAWADA: The city civil courts premises, in which the Mahila Sessions Court is housed, was the hub of activity from morning on Thursday. Besides lawyers, people in large numbers began reaching the court from 10 a.m. The police had a trying time in controlling the swelling crowds.

Representatives of women's organisations and students' unions staged a demonstration outside the court premises by displaying banners with slogans demanding capital punishment to Y. Manohar, the accused in the Srilakshmi murder case. Even as the police brought Manohar to the court around noon, the curious crowd surrounded the police vehicle. Some women activists made an attempt to follow the jeep and to gain an entry into the court hall. By using force, the police prevented the mobs from entering the court hall.

Judge's objection

The Judge, M. Chalapathi Rao, objected to the entry of advocates into the court hall in large numbers. "We are in a respectable position and we have to uphold our dignity," he told advocates and said that he would pronounce his judgment only after 1 pm. The crowd waited outside the court with bated breath for the clock to strike one. People who thronged the court premises went on discussing the possible outcome of the judgment.

Before reading out the judgment, the Judge asked the media not to use cameras to or record the judgment. He began reading a portion of the 85-page judgment at 1.20 pm and completed it by 1.30 pm. Breaking the pin-drop silence in the hall, he began reading his judgment with taking exception to the women's organisations staging a demonstration on the court premises and stated that such incidents would not create any impact on the verdict. By the time he completed pronouncing the judgment, advocates present in the court hall welcomed it by giving a big applause in the form of claps.

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