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SC for nixing political push behind strikes
In a bid to nip the political patronage behind disruption of rail and road services during agitation and hartals, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to consider directing the Election Commission to de-recognise such political parties and outfits.
This is the second serious attempt made by the court to put an end to the public woes after three such incidents in the past displayed total apathy on part of the administration and police, which remain helpless to act against miscreants and rowdies who torch buses, damage rail tracks and hold to ransom the arterial roads and rail links across the country leading to cutting-off of essential goods and services between States.
The concern of the court was aroused over an estimated loss of `33 crore suffered by the Railways following blockade of rail tracks in Haryana by Jats of Mirchpur village to protest the arrest of their community members over death of two Dalits. The blockade continued for over a week resulting in cancellation and diversion of trains, disruption in transport of goods and services. Even in the past the Gujjars had protested by closing down rail routes and damaging several trains.
Seeking suggestions from the Centre to prevent such incidents from repeating, the bench of Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya proposed a novel method to de-recognise political outfits openly supporting such agitation.
“At times political parties declare blockade. Such political parties which declare can be held accountable,” the bench said. Solicitor General RF Nariman informed the court that the Centre was in favour of laying down guidelines to ensure time-bound action in preventing such instances.
As an out-of-the-box suggestion, the bench proposed, “We want to know if it is possible for us to direct the Election Commission to de-recognise such outfits or groups because their action will be prima facie against the interest of state.” The court asked the Centre to suggest its views on this aspect by next Tuesday.
The court also referred to the 100-day blockade of the national highways leading to Manipur and Sikkim that virtually left the North-eastern States marooned and without food and essential supplies, medicines for an indefinite period. Commenting on the state of affairs, the bench wondered, "Are we facing a situation of paralysis?"
Alive to the reality that often lack of political will encouraged such hooliganism, the bench said, "There are some officials who are willing to prevent such blockades. But the ground reality is when political scenario in the state changes, they become victims." As a rule, the court wished to know from Nariman if the state could be burdened to pay the compensation towards damages suffered. Solicitor General accepted this suggestion only as a last measure in cases where there was proof to show state's complicity.
In a bid to nip the political patronage behind disruption of rail and road services during agitation and hartals, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to consider directing the Election Commission to de-recognise such political parties and outfits.
This is the second serious attempt made by the court to put an end to the public woes after three such incidents in the past displayed total apathy on part of the administration and police, which remain helpless to act against miscreants and rowdies who torch buses, damage rail tracks and hold to ransom the arterial roads and rail links across the country leading to cutting-off of essential goods and services between States.
The concern of the court was aroused over an estimated loss of `33 crore suffered by the Railways following blockade of rail tracks in Haryana by Jats of Mirchpur village to protest the arrest of their community members over death of two Dalits. The blockade continued for over a week resulting in cancellation and diversion of trains, disruption in transport of goods and services. Even in the past the Gujjars had protested by closing down rail routes and damaging several trains.
Seeking suggestions from the Centre to prevent such incidents from repeating, the bench of Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya proposed a novel method to de-recognise political outfits openly supporting such agitation.
“At times political parties declare blockade. Such political parties which declare can be held accountable,” the bench said. Solicitor General RF Nariman informed the court that the Centre was in favour of laying down guidelines to ensure time-bound action in preventing such instances.
As an out-of-the-box suggestion, the bench proposed, “We want to know if it is possible for us to direct the Election Commission to de-recognise such outfits or groups because their action will be prima facie against the interest of state.” The court asked the Centre to suggest its views on this aspect by next Tuesday.
The court also referred to the 100-day blockade of the national highways leading to Manipur and Sikkim that virtually left the North-eastern States marooned and without food and essential supplies, medicines for an indefinite period. Commenting on the state of affairs, the bench wondered, "Are we facing a situation of paralysis?"
Alive to the reality that often lack of political will encouraged such hooliganism, the bench said, "There are some officials who are willing to prevent such blockades. But the ground reality is when political scenario in the state changes, they become victims." As a rule, the court wished to know from Nariman if the state could be burdened to pay the compensation towards damages suffered. Solicitor General accepted this suggestion only as a last measure in cases where there was proof to show state's complicity.
