Traffic snarls: Hearing today

Traffic snarls: Hearing today
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The JD (S) rally which hit the City traffic on Monday has revived an old petition seeking ban on protests and bundh in the City. The petition will come up for hearing on Wednesday.


A V Amaranath, City-based advocate and party-in-person who had filed this petition during the year 2005 against the frequent traffic snarl due to the bandhs and rallies said that matter has been posted for hearing.

In the Public Interest Litigation, the petitioner sought a ban on such political rallies and bundhs following a series of road blocks due to Kanakagopura controversy (January 7, 2005), arrest of Uma Bharathi January 8, 2005 and bundh called following Benny Hinn’s visit (January 25, 2005). The petitioner said that these rallies would infringe on the fundamental rights of the general public.

Citing the Supreme Court judgements passed in 1998 and 2003, the petitioner sought a direction to implement the same in the State too.

In 1998, the Supreme Court had confirmed the Kerala High Court direction to ban the protests and rallies in the year 1997. Again during the year 2003 order the Apex Court confirmed the Tamil Nadu High Court Order to ban the rallies. The Tamil Nadu High Court had made this order following a petition by Villipuram Merchants Association.

The then Chief Justice N K Sodhi who heard the matter had directed the petitioner to implead all the political parties. The State government then following the directions of the court handed over the list of 25 political parties which were served with the notice. Though some of the political parties like Communist Party of India filed objections none of the major political parties responded to the petition.

But the then State government filed an affidavit stating that it is ready to abide by the Court directions. In the 17-page affidavit, the State assured to provide an alternative place to conduct rallies and protests on the outskirts with all the facilities like providing drinking water and other things.

However the matter is now pending before the Court and will becoming up for hearing on Wednesday. Another PIL by B Krishna Bhat is also likely to come up along with this petition. The petition dated May 29, 2006 had objected to the Daridra Narayana rally by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda scheduled to begin from Race Course road on May 30, 2006. But the procession rally was stopped following the Court notice.