Why was India Gate sealed for protests, asks Delhi High Court

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Why was India Gate sealed for protests, asks Delhi High Court

Press Trust of India | Updated: January 02, 2013 19:13 IST

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today reserved its verdict on a plea against imposition of prohibitory orders in and around India Gate during the recent anti-rape protests, saying the legal provision of section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) may lose its sanctity if invoked without proper procedures.

"There are rights to movement and speech and expression, it (section 144 of the CrPC) cannot be used just like that...otherwise it would lead to loss of the sanctity," a bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice V K Jain said.

The court's observations came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by Delhi-based advocate Anand K Mishra, who alleged that the prohibitory order was invoked in an "arbitrary" manner and without following the procedures enshrined under the CrPC.

Appearing for the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General Siddharth Luthra, however, opposed the plea saying the guidelines for the imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC (which deals with power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) cannot be framed as all cases are "distinguishable" and contain different facts.

A senior lawyer, appearing for advocate Mishra, said "The whole Capital was traumatised over the gang rape and thousands of girl students and others, who do not feel safe, came to join the social movement. It was not a political movement. The section (144) cannot be used to curtail the constitutional rights."

He also cited various Supreme Court judgements including the verdict on the Ramlila Maidan incident involving Baba Ramdev and his supporters and sought framing of guidelines on the issue.

"As far as this notification (on invoking Section 144 in and around India Gate) is concerned, if that is not in place now then what is the purpose of the petition," Justice Murugesan said.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/why-was-india-gate-sealed-for-protests-asks-delhi-high-court-312510

[bellypop]

To answer the question of the high court i would say that this country only knows 1 way and that is to try and silence voices of truth. They will beat protesters (sometimes even shoot at them )and have no come back on them or they will totally silence the voice of protestors by shuting off roads.

It is not a democratic country. India should not be allowed to sit and have views in the UN.