HC: Explore possibility of earmarking dharna sites

Chandigarh : Less than a week before municipal corporation and council polls, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the state government to specify whether sites for dharna or protests could be earmarked in all 22 districts. The directions by the Division Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal came during a petition filed by Varinder Pal Singh.
As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Bench also asked the parties concerned to come out with suggestions for determining the possible extent of allowing political dharnas to prevent deterioration of the law and order situation and trouble to the people.
The direction came after Punjab Advocate General Atul Nanda told the Bench that maintenance of law and order in the state, prevention of traffic disruption and inconvenience to the people was of paramount importance.
Nanda added dharnas on the national and state highways would not be tolerated. As such, it was important for political parties to put their heads together for coming out with a plausible solution.
The Bench was also told that the state was considering the feasibility of earmarking dharna sites in the districts.