JD(S) rally: HC raps govt, police

JD(S) rally: HC raps govt, police
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The Karnataka High Court on Friday pulled up the State government and the City police for their inability to manage the traffic crisis during the Janata Dal (S) rally on November 17.


The rally had triggered a mammoth traffic gridlock, leaving scores of school children, patients, office-goers and the general public stranded on the roads for over seven hours.

On a petition filed by the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, the division bench comprising Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice V G Sabhahit rapped the police and the State government describing November 17 as a ‘fateful day’ as many patients suffered.

“Do you know how many patients were affected? Five ambulances were struck in the traffic for hours. If this had resulted in deaths, who would have been responsible. Does your government or the police commissioner have the power to bring them back to life,” the Chief Justice asked. He also lashed out at the Commissioner of Police, with a flurry of questions: “Was he in station or not? Only a writ will wake him up. Didn’t he know about the number of people assembling for the rally ?”

The bench said it was not against any political party but was concerned about the public suffering.
The petitioners had sought directions to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the political or public rally, and comprehensive guidelines on it. They wanted regulations to ensure the turnout for such gatherings does not exceed 25,000.

When the matters related to bandhs and rallies were pending before the High Court, how was permission granted for the rally, the bench asked the government’s counsel. The bench also took exception to the counsel’s suggestion that the petition could be placed before another bench which was hearing a similar petition on bandhs and rallies.

The bench served notices to the government, the Commissioner of Police and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. It asked the government to submit a report on the measures it would take to prevent a recurrence of such traffic chaos. The hearing was adjourned.