HC: Explore possibility of earmarking dharna sites

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13

Less than a week before municipal corporation and council polls, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the state government to specify whether sites for dharna or protests could be earmarked in all 22 districts.

The directions by the Division Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal came during a petition filed by Varinder Pal Singh.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Bench also asked the parties concerned to come out with suggestions for determining the possible extent of allowing political dharnas to prevent deterioration of the law and order situation and trouble to the people.

The direction came after Punjab Advocate General Atul Nanda told the Bench that maintenance of law and order in the state, prevention of traffic disruption and inconvenience to the people was of paramount importance.

Nanda added dharnas on the national and state highways would not be tolerated. As such, it was important for political parties to put their heads together for coming out with a plausible solution.

The Bench was also told that the state was considering the feasibility of earmarking dharna sites in the districts.

Responding to the submissions that protests were triggered following attempts to prevent candidates of rival political parties to file nomination papers for the elections, Nanda quipped: “The pot calling the kettle black.” The issues will now come up for further deliberations on January 11.

Nanda, on the previous date of hearing, was asked to ensure prevalence of peace, law and order in the state. He was also asked to prevent disruption of routine business and traffic. Clamping of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code as per requirement was also ordered.

The Bench had also made it clear that dharna, meeting or congregation called or held by any political party today onwards without prior approval from the Deputy Commissioner would not satisfy the test of being legal.

The petitioner had earlier stated that “hundreds of workers and voters of various political parties” had thronged the bridges connecting Ferozepur city with neighbouring districts. “Similar is the situation in the rest of Punjab,” it was added. The Bench was also told that people belonging to the different political parties were also blocking the national highways and internal roads.