THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.5152 of 2011 ORDER: In this writ petition, petitioners seek a mandamus declaring the action of the respondents, particularly, the second respondent – Station House Officer, Tanuku (Rural) Police Station, West Godavari District, in harassing them to settle the dispute, which exists between them and the fourth respondent, as illegal and arbitrary. The fourth respondent herein is the wife of the first petitioner, and other petitioners are family members. It is the grievance of the petitioners that at the instance of the fourth respondent, respondents 2 and 3 are interfering with their life and liberty and insisting them to settle the dispute with the fourth respondent. According to them, there is no power or jurisdiction to the police to interfere with the family disputes in the absence of any complaint. The second respondent has filed a detailed counter-affidavit. In the counter-affidavit, while denying various allegations made by the petitioners, it is stated that on 23.02.2011, the fourth respondent, who is the wife of the first petitioner, approached the police of Tanuku Rural Police Station and lodged a complaint against the petitioners stating that she was married to the first petitioner on 23.02.2002 and her parents offered Rs.1,50,000/- as dowry in addition to other articles but the first petitioner and other family members are insisting her to bring additional dowry. It is further stated that based on the said complaint, entries were made in the general diary on 23.02.2011 but no case was registered against the petitioners as the complainant herself requested not to register any case except counselling them. It is further stated that to know the veracity of the complaint of the fourth respondent, the second respondent sent a Police Constable, by name, Venkateswara Rao, to summon the petitioners. Likewise, the Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, Tanuku Rural Police Station requested the petitioners for counselling over cell phone but they have not turned up. It is also stated that on coming to know the lodging of the complaint by the fourth respondent, this writ petition is filed in anticipation of registration of crime. Based on the counter-affidavit filed by the second respondent, it is submitted by the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for respondents 1 to 3 that respondents 1 to 3 are not interfering with the life and liberty of the petitioners but in view of the complaint of the fourth respondent, the petitioners are called only for the purpose of counselling as requested by the fourth respondent. In view of the fact that as per the averments mentioned in the counter-affidavit, no crime is registered against the petitioners and as it is stated that presence of the petitioners is not required in connection with any crime as no crime is registered against them and respondents 1 to 3 are not interfering with the life and liberty of the petitioners, I dispose of the writ petition placing such statement on record. No order as to costs. _______________________ R.SUBHASH REDDY, J 30th MARCH, 2011. kvni