Chandigarh: Ahead of the Punjab municipal polls scheduled for December 17, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday directed the state government to ensure maintenance of law and order, and conduct of elections in peaceful manner without any inconvenience to the public.
Punjab advocate general
The directions came from the division bench comprising Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal while taking up a public interest litigation filed by Varinder Pal Singh. The bench said, "This Court is of the opinion that if any dharna, meeting or congregation is called or held by any of the political party, from today onwards, without any prior approval of the deputy commissioner of the district, the same would not satisfy the test of being legal."
The court has also directed to ensure invocation of the provisions of Section 144 CrPC wherever required by the concerned authorities.
The division further ordered to ensure "any dharna, meeting or congregation or activity which may lead to disruption of traffic, peace law and order, routine trade business of general public shall not be permitted in the state of Punjab keeping in view the ensuing municipal elections."
Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda has been directed by the court to apprise the court on the next date of hearing on December 13, about the steps being taken to ensure that there is no untoward incident in the state.
During the arguments of the case, Nanda made a statement, on the basis of information received from Punjab DGP (intelligence) Dinkar Gupta that he did not dispute that the situation in the Punjab was grave because of the ensuing municipal elections.
The advocate general also submitted that certain roads which are near the border areas may cause threat to the national security.
Punjab advocate general
The directions came from the division bench comprising Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal while taking up a public interest litigation filed by Varinder Pal Singh. The bench said, "This Court is of the opinion that if any dharna, meeting or congregation is called or held by any of the political party, from today onwards, without any prior approval of the deputy commissioner of the district, the same would not satisfy the test of being legal."
The court has also directed to ensure invocation of the provisions of Section 144 CrPC wherever required by the concerned authorities.
The division further ordered to ensure "any dharna, meeting or congregation or activity which may lead to disruption of traffic, peace law and order, routine trade business of general public shall not be permitted in the state of Punjab keeping in view the ensuing municipal elections."
Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda has been directed by the court to apprise the court on the next date of hearing on December 13, about the steps being taken to ensure that there is no untoward incident in the state.
During the arguments of the case, Nanda made a statement, on the basis of information received from Punjab DGP (intelligence) Dinkar Gupta that he did not dispute that the situation in the Punjab was grave because of the ensuing municipal elections.
The advocate general also submitted that certain roads which are near the border areas may cause threat to the national security.
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