In a significant development, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to stop Pawan Kalyan from acting in films while holding the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
The petition, filed by former IAS officer Vijay Kumar, argued that continuing in films while serving as a minister is unethical and amounts to misuse of position. It also raised concerns over alleged links between government decisions, including ticket price revisions, and his film activities.
However, the court did not find merit in these arguments.
During the hearing, the state’s legal team pointed out that there is no legal restriction preventing a Chief Minister or a Minister from acting in films. They also referred to past judicial observations related to N. T. Rama Rao, where similar issues had come up earlier.
The court accepted the argument that allegations of misuse of authority were not supported by evidence. It also observed that the petition lacked strong legal grounds and did not warrant further consideration.
With this, the High Court dismissed the plea, effectively clearing the way for Pawan Kalyan to continue both his political responsibilities and film commitments.
From a broader perspective, the case once again brings up an ongoing debate. Where should the line be drawn between public office and personal profession? The court has made its position clear on the legal side. The rest remains a matter of political perception, not law.
