Are you going to ban each and every protest? Karnataka HC asks govt

The Karnataka High Court came down heavily on the BS Yediyurappa government on Friday (December 20) for clamping down prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the state, and said it would look into the legality of its implementation.

After hearing a set of petitions against the security clampdown, Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka asked the government, “Are you (state) going to ban each and every protest? How can you cancel permission previously granted following due course of process?”

The court also asked the Advocate General to check whether the police had revoked permission for protests after imposing Section 144, and directed him to submit his reply by 4 pm on Friday. It also asked the government whether it will consider granting permission for peaceful protests if a fresh application is submitted.

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“It should be checked whether any permission to organisers previously granted permission to hold peaceful protest was revoked in wake of Section 144 order, (and if it) can be considered if they apply for fresh permission,” said the bench led by the chief justice.

The prohibitory orders were imposed after Karnataka witnessed widespread violence during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Thursday and the death of two protesters in an alleged police firing in Mangaluru. Besides, in Bengaluru, several protesters including historian Ramachandra Guha and Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad were detained by the police during demonstrations.

Karnataka police has thereafter restricted entry to Mangaluru for those coming from Kerala. At least 50 men and women who had arrived by a train from Kerala were taken into custody for trying to enter the city without identity cards.

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Some journalists were also detained for entering the Government Wenlock hospital where the post-mortem of those killed in the police firing was underway. The mediapersons, who were from Kerala, were released later in the day.

Police sources said protesters defying prohibitory orders attempted to lay siege to a police station in Mangaluru and tried to attack police personnel, following which force was used to disperse them.

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa appealed to people to stay away from ‘vested interests’ indulging in rumour-mongering and assured his government’s commitment to protect the rights of all citizens.

(With inputs from agencies)