High Court sets aside order for potency test of IPS trainee

Metro India News | Hyderabad : The Telangana High Court has set aside a trial court order permitting a potency test on IPS officer trainee M. Uday Krishna Reddy, who is facing allegations of sexual assault. Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, allowing Criminal Petition No.13846 of 2026, observed that a potency test cannot be ordered routinely in sexual offence cases without establishing its specific relevance and necessity.

The Court noted that the prosecution had failed to explain how the proposed test would assist the investigation, particularly when the allegation concerned digital penetration. It also pointed out that the trial court had earlier rejected a similar request for want of specific reasons.

Holding that medical examinations must satisfy the requirements of relevance, necessity and proportionality, the High Court quashed the trial court's order dated August 17, 2026. However, it clarified that the prosecution is at liberty to file an appropriate application if a genuine necessity arises.