Citizens will not be affected in the event of bandh call, State assures HC

The State government on Wednesday assured the Karnataka High Court that the authorities would take all measures to ensure that daily life of the people is not affected in the event of a bandh call by any individual or organisation.

Additional Advocate-General A.S. Ponnanna made this submission during the hearing of PIL petitions that questioned repeated bandh calls given by certain organisations in violation of the apex court’s verdict that none has a right to call or enforce a bandh that interferes with the fundamental freedom of citizens.

Following the assurance, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice B.M. Shyam Prasad adjourned further hearing till April 26, asking the government to submit a written statement on the issues raised in the petitions.

Though the court on Feb. 2 had passed an interim order declaring that the bandh call given for Feb. 4 was unconstitutional in view of the apex court’s 1998 verdict, the petitioners moved court when a group of organisations gave a call for bandh on April 12 in connection with the Cauvery issue. However, the bandh call was postponed to May 3, the day on which the apex court is hearing a plea related to the Cauvery dispute.

The petitioners also complained that the State government is also not acting against those who are repeatedly giving calls for bandh.