Date:29/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/29/stories/2007092957500100.htm

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Ensure bandh does not affect normal life: court tells government

A. Subramani

Instructions issued for smooth functioning of essential services

It is not a strike’ or hartal as claimed by the parties concerned
Free movement of citizens must be ensured

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government shall ensure the smooth functioning of road and rail traffic and free movement of citizens during the Statewide bandh on October 1, the Madras High Court has said.

Passing interim orders on a batch of PIL petitions against the proposed agitation, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani gave a set of directions, in addition to the instructions issued by the Chief Secretary to the district authorities, to ensure that the normal life of common citizens was not affected by the bandh. The Bench said the October 1 agitation was a bandh, and not a ‘strike’ or ‘hartal’ as claimed by the political parties concerned, and issued notice to the DMK, the Congress, the CPI(M), the CPI and the PMK, returnable by October 24.

When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, Advocate-General R. Viduthalai furnished a copy of the instructions telefaxed by the Chief Secretary to officials, and reiterated the government stand that law and order would be maintained on October 1.

The instructions said essential services such as telecommunication, water, milk and power supply, fire services and hospitals should function on October 1, and adequate protection should be given to vital installations such as important government buildings, bridges, bus depots and railway stations. Action would be taken against anti-social elements indulging in acts of violence and vandalism, it said, adding that visible police presence would be maintained during the day.

The Bench said that in addition to these instructions, the Chief Secretary, the DGP, District Collectors and other authorities must ensure that no political party, organisation, association, group or individual exercised force or intimidated or stopped or interfered with road and rail traffic or free movement of citizens.

The Chief Secretary should issue a press note on September 29 and 30 to the print and electronic media informing the public of the preparation made by the police to deal with the bandh.

The petitioners include the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy.