Chandigarh, December 1: Just two days before protests scheduled in Patiala district by teachers appointed under the SSA/RMSA programmes, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday ruled that the associations and its members did enjoy right to “peaceful” agitation for consideration of their lawful demands. But the district administration’s nod was a must for protest at a designated place.
The Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli made it clear that the organisers would stage dharna, protest or demonstration only after obtaining prior permission from the district administration at a place identified to carry out peaceful activities.
It also directed the police authorities to ensure that the participants did not carry weapons, including firearms, knives and batons.
The Bench also directed that the organisers would furnish an undertaking before the administration that they would ensure peaceful protest at the designated site only. “The police authorities and the state government will ensure videography of any protest/demonstration being held to the maximum extent possible.
The police authorities would also keep a strict vigil and regulate entries from all entry points of Patiala district, the Bench added. The orders were passed after the state Director-General of Police appeared before the Bench to assist it in the matter.
The developments took place on a petition filed against the state of Punjab and other respondents by Mohit Kapoor through senior advocate Puneet Bali and Arun Gupta.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan teachers are aggrieved by circulars/notices issued by the Education Department envisaging their displacement by newly absorbed/regularised teachers. They were asked to give option of absorption/regularisation in the Education Department at reduced monthly salaries of Rs 15,300, even though they were getting a monthly salary of Rs 40,000 under the SSA/RMSA.
A practicing lawyer, Kapoor had moved the court expressing apprehension regarding disruption of public life due to protest on December 2 called by associations of teachers in Patiala district.
The Bench added that the protestors could not be permitted to take law in their hands and disrupt life of the general public by resorting to blocking roads and damage to the public property in the name of agitation to pressurise the government to fulfill their demands.
Source Tribune India
