Bombay High Court Halts Maharashtra Bandh Call
The Bombay High Court has barred political parties and individuals from calling for a Maharashtra bandh, following petitions challenging a planned shut-down by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance to protest alleged sexual assaults in a Thane district school. The court stressed the state's duty to prevent such strikes.
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The Bombay High Court on Friday prohibited political parties and individuals from calling for a Maharashtra bandh.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance had proposed a state-wide shut-down on August 24 to protest the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur, Thane district.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar instructed the Maharashtra government to take all necessary steps to prevent the bandh.
A detailed order will be issued shortly in response to two petitions filed on Friday by advocates Subhash Jha and Gunaratna Sadavarte challenging the bandh call. ''We are restraining any political party and/or any individual from calling for a bandh. The state shall take all preventive steps,'' the HC stated.
State Advocate General Birendra Saraf informed the court that the general strike call was illegal and assured that the state government would take measures to prevent harm to human lives or property. ''The state will do its duty but everyone has constitutional responsibilities which they should abide by,'' Saraf added.
The court queried Saraf on what preventive steps have been taken, and if any arrests have been made. Notices have been issued to several individuals, but no arrests have been made as yet, Saraf reported.
Advocates Jha and Sadavarte referenced a Kerala High Court judgment stating that no political party can call for a state-wide bandh and noted that high courts have the authority to intervene in such matters. They also cited the Maratha reservation agitation as an example where public property was substantially damaged. The court's detailed order is anticipated by evening.
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