Hyderabad, Aug. 24 -- The Telangana High Court has ruled that incidents occurring within four walls, through WhatsApp messages, or via private emails, do not fall under the definition of "public place" and hence cannot attract provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The court observed that only allegations of caste-based humiliation taking place in public view can be tried under the Act, as per statutory provisions and Supreme Court guidelines.

The order came in a case filed by D Nirupama and her father, Anupama Babu, residents of Secunderabad, seeking quashing of an SC/ST case registered against them by Nirupama's former husband, K Kranti Kiran. Justice EV Venugopal, after hearing arguments recently, delivered the judgm...