Farmers’ Agitations: MP Govt Informs MP HC Of Steps Taken To Protect Citizens [Read Order]

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has declined to pass an interim order with regard to the ongoing farmers’ agitations after the Advocate General submitted that the state government has already taken appropriate steps for the protection of citizens.

Advocate General PK Kaurav told the court: “The state has already taken appropriate steps in regard to the agitation as pleaded by the petitioner in the petition and adequate protection will be given to the citizens if any untoward incident will take place.”

He also submitted: “The state shall take appropriate steps so that the directions issued by this court in the order dated 7.12.2007, passed in WP No. 16996/2007, are complied with”.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Anwar Hussain, a 51-year-old music director, social worker and cultivator, who has sought relief to restrain the private respondents from holding agitation like strike, road blockades or any other mode that might cause inconvenience to the public.

The direction is sought against private respondents, including MLAs Jitendra Patwari (Jitu) and Shakuntala Khatik, Rashtriya Kissan Mazdoor Sangh leader Shiv Kumar Sharma.

The petitioner is disturbed that on account of the so-called agitation of farmers a few days back, public property was burnt and damaged, resulting in the deaths of several persons and the agitators misbehaved with the district collector of Mandsaur and attacked police personnel, petitioner’s counsel Ajay Raizada said.

The counsel sought directions on the lines of order of 7.12.2007 to the state to comply with those directions.

According to the high court order of 7.12.2007 in WP No. 16998/2007, the Advocate General said it is directed to the state to take interim measures to ensure the proposed agitation /protest by way of road blockade would not restrict or constrict the movements of any citizen to any place.

Other interim directions issued were that the agitation shall not create any obstruction on roads or cause any kind or impediment in the moment of traffic, none of the agitators or protesters will force anyone from carrying out their profession, trade or calling.

The protesters or any one shall not cause any hindrance in the movement of any individual in the name of ‘Chakajam’. The protesters are prohibited to create any noise pollution as the same is prohibited in law.

A division bench comprising Justice SK Gangele and Justice Rajendra Mahajan said: “In this view of the matter, in our considered opinion, it is not necessary by this court to pass any interim order as prayed for by the petitioner.”

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