STATE GOVERNMENT TO ENACT A NEW LAW TO PROHIBIT BANDHS AND BLOCKADES IN THE STATE

Imphal, May 30, 2017 (DIPR): The State Cabinet today discussed at length the suffering to the general public due to frequent bandhs and blockades in the State by various organisations.

Having considered the judgments passed by the Hon’ble High Courts of Kerala, West Bengal and Meghalaya, the State Cabinet today decided to enact a new law declaring all such bandhs and blockades illegal and fixing responsibility against the sponsors and organisers of the bandhs and blockades for public inconvenience and damage to properties.

The State Cabinet also considered enacting the law providing recovery of cost of all the damages to properties from the sponsors and organisers and also depriving the organisers and persons involved, if convicted, from getting entry into Government employment and from getting any benefits under the Government schemes in addition to criminal proceedings to be instituted.

The Cabinet observed that calling bandh and blockade is an invasion to the Fundamental Rights of the people guaranteed under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has declared bandh as unconstitutional and illegal, and to recoup any loss suffered by the citizens from the sponsors and organisers of the bandh.

If the sponsors or orginisers of the bandh think they have license to take law into their hands, the State Government shall have to mandatorily take action against them in public interest, the Cabinet observed. (DIPR)

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