HC puts Haryana on notice on PIL apprehending blockades

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday put Haryana government on notice on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the state to ensure that road and rail traffic are not disrupted by pro-quota Jat protesters in Haryana.

The high court bench of justices SS Saron and Hari Pal Verma has sought response by March 15 on the petition filed by a high court lawyer, Arvind Seth.

The court was informed that there is an apprehension that the people sitting on dharnas in various parts of the state are likely to block the highways to press for their demands that can lead to inconvenience to the public. “In 2016, there were rampant blockades on the national and state highways, due to which public at large suffered untold hardships,” the petitioner told the court.

The court was apprised that in the previous agitations, many people died apart from damage to the public and private properties. The government is not taking all preventive measures so as to maintain law and order situation.

The court was urged to direct the government to take all preventive measures to maintain public order, safeguard public and private properties and action against the protesters for disruption of public order.