THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE R.SUBHASH REDDY WRIT PETITION No.1695 of 2010 ORDER: In this writ petition, petitioner seeks directions by way of mandamus to the respondents to discontinue Rowdy Sheet bearing No.294(A) opened against him, on the file of the fourth respondent. In the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, it is stated that the petitioner has been working as coolie at Repalle Fruits and Vegetable Market. It is also stated that the respondents are illegally continuing rowdy sheet opened against him as per Standing Orders of the Andhra Pradesh Police Manual. In the counter-affidavit filed by the Sub-Inspector of Police, Repalle Police Station, Guntur District, it is stated that the petitioner involved in criminal cases, namely, 1) Cr.No.14 of 2010 under Sections 452, 509 and 324 IPC 2) Crime No.91 of 2001 under Sections 324 and 509 IPC read with 34 IPC and 3) Crime No.54 of 1999 under Section 302 IPC read with 34 IPC. It is further stated that all the aforesaid cases registered against the petitioner were ended in acquittal, but in view of his involvement in the aforesaid crimes in 1999 and 2001, on 23.08.2003, a rowdy sheet was opened against him and it is being continued. It is further stated that as he involved in commission of offence under Section 302 IPC in Crime No.54 of 1999, which was also ended in acquittal, to safeguard the interest of public in Repalle Mandal and on the representations made by the residents of Repalle Mandal earlier, the rowdy sheet opened against him is being continued and stands extended up to 31.12.2010. A rowdy sheet is being opened in exercise of powers under the Standing Orders of the Andhra Pradesh Police Manual. Standing Order No.601 classifies the rowdies against whom rowdy sheets were opened in Form No.80. It is the case of the petitioner that as he was acquitted in all the cases registered against him and in the absence of registration of crimes against him continuously, it cannot be said that he is a habitual offender. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for the respondents, states that in view of involvement of the petitioner in several crimes, rowdy sheet was opened against him, in exercise of powers under Standing Order No.601-A of the Andhra Pradesh Police Manual. Under Standing Order No.601-A of the Andhra Pradesh Police Manual, persons, who habitually commit, attempt to commit or abet the commission of offences involving a breach of peace, disturbance to public order and security, can be called as rowdy sheeters for the purpose of opening rowdy sheets in Form No.80. In this case, even from the counter-affidavit filed on behalf of the respondents, it is evident that the petitioner involved in Crime No.54 of 1999 for the offence under Section 302 IPC read with 34 IPC, and thereafter, there were only two cases registered against him, one case in Crime No.91 of 2001 under Sections 324 and 509 IPC and another case in Crime No.14 of 2010 under Sections 452, 509 and 324 IPC, and that he was acquitted. Although there were two cases registered against him after his involvement in Crime No.54 of 1999, in view of time gap, it cannot be said that he is a habitual offender. One to call a person ‘habitual offender’, thread of continuity must appear by his involvement in the crimes, as held in number of cases. In that view of the matter, based on his involvement in Crime No.14 of 2010, in the absence of his involvement in any crime from 2002 to 2009, there appears no reason to renew the rowdy sheet opened against the petitioner. Further, from the very Standing Order, it is clear that at the end of the year, the respondents have to consider the material as to their involvement in the cases for the purpose of renewing rowdy sheet further or not. But, in the instant case, it appears, only based on the representations of public in Repalle Mandal, in a routine manner, the rowdy sheet opened against the petitioner was renewed. Though there is some basis for opening rowdy sheet against the petitioner in 2003, in the absence of any chain of events and continuity of his involvement in commission of offence thereafter and in view of the fact that all the cases registered against him were ended in acquittal, it appears no reason to continue the rowdy sheet opened against him for the period up to 31.12.2010. For the aforesaid reasons, rowdy sheet bearing No.294(A), which was opened against the petitioner and renewed up to 31.12.2010, is hereby quashed. However, it is made clear that if there is any involvement of the petitioner in further crimes, this order will not preclude the respondents to again open rowdy sheet against him. Subject to the above, the writ petition is allowed to the extent indicated above. No order as to costs. ______________________ R.SUBHASH REDDY, J 13th SEPTEMBER, 2010. kvni