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“Are you going to ban each and every protest?” K’taka HC raps govt

The High Court bench led by the Chief Justice will look into the legality of the prohibitory orders issued by the state and expressed dismay over the manner in which protests in bangalore were handled.

Protest
Image Courtesy: m.dailyhunt.in
 

The Karnataka High Court’s response in the PILs filed by Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Gowda, Jayanagar MLA Sowmya Reddy, and others has given some hope to the anti-CAA and anti-NRC protestors. The case was heard on December 20.

The PIL has challenged the detention of persons including historian Ramachandra Guha as they had defied the prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC

The Karnataka High Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur reprimanded the government and questioned it, “Are you (state) going to ban each and every protest? How can you cancel permission previously granted following due course of process?… Can the state proceed on the assumption that every protest will become violent? Can an author or artist not hold a peaceful protest if he disagrees with any decision of the government.”

The bench has decided to look into the legality of the prohibitory orders implemented from December 19 to 21. The Bench observed that the cause of the protest is not a matter of concern to the court as much as the decision-making process that imposed the prohibitory orders, since these orders curtail fundamental rights of citizens. “It should be checked whether any permission to organisers previously granted to hold a peaceful protest was revoked in wake of Sec 144 order, (and if it) can be considered if they apply for fresh permission,” the court said.

The Attorney General, Prabhuling K Navadgi argued that the police had only acted on intelligence reports received by it that indicated that the protests could turn into a law and order situationand that people from Kerala had infiltrated into the state. He said that the police were only acting to safeguard public property.

The Indian Express reported that apart from Guha, several protesters including Shivajinagar Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad were detained by police, and released later. The detentions prompted Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to warn police against taking the law into their hands “without reason”.

Related:

Karnataka HC slams govt: ‘You will ban each protest? Can’t an author speak up?’
India’s 200 million Muslims could be affected by CAA-NRC: US report

Yediyurappa reneges on compensation promise to anti-CAA protesters?
Bengaluru to hold NPR in two phases
‘Protestors should pay’: Karnataka to seize properties of alleged ‘rioters’
Bangalore roars in unity against the CAA and NRC
Controlling Dissent: Ramchandra Guha, left leaders detained for anti-CAA protests
K’taka BJP leader warns anti-CAA protesters of ‘Godhra-like’ situation

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