Manipur cabinet to declare bandhs illegal

ORGANISERS OF BLOCKADES WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR INCONVENIENCE CAUSED TO THE PUBLIC AND DAMAGES DONE TO PROPERTIES

Considering the problems faced by general public during frequent bandhs and blockades in Manipur, the state cabinet has decided to enact a new law to declare “bandhs and blockades illegal”.

A cabinet meeting chaired by Manipur’s first BJP chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday took the decision in this regard.

The decision was taken at a time when the state, particularly the capital, witnessed a 48-hour bandh over the death of a person.

Earlier, the state had faced longest blockade on its two highways that started from November 1 last year and continued till March 19 midnight this year, over the creation of new districts.

Besides enacting a new law declaring all such bandhs and blockades illegal, the state cabinet also decided to fix responsibilities against organisers of such blockades for inconvenience caused to the public and also damages done to properties.

The cabinet also considered making a provision in law that would let the state recover cost of all the damages to government properties from the sponsors and organisers. Besides, it would also deprive the organisers and persons involved, if convicted, from getting any government jobs and any benefits under the government schemes in addition to criminal proceedings to be instituted against the persons.

Observing that calling bandh and blockade is an invasion to the fundamental rights of the people guaranteed under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution, the Cabinet felt that the state government should take action in public interest if the sponsors or organisers of the bandh think they have licence to take law into their hands.

The Supreme Court had also declared bandh unconstitutional and illegal, and to recoup any loss suffered by the citizens from the sponsors and organisers of the bandh.