Kerala High Court on Thursday issued notice to the state government on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking a direction to ban processions or rallies with the participation over 500 people in the city.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Kustice Kurian Joseph and Justice Thothathil B. Radhakrishnan, admitting the petition, also issued notices to Ernakulam District Collector and Kochi Police Commissioner.
According to the petitioner, Institute of Social Welfare, the directions of the Full Bench regarding the conduct of processions are blatantly violated by different organsiations and political parties.
As per the 2004 directions of the court, the organisers of the rallies and processions have to ensure that traffic was not blocked and no inconvenience is caused to commuters.
The petitioner said the recent rally organised by caste forum SNDP here had also violated the directions of the high court. Despite strict directions by the bench, the rally was conducted flouting the prescribed norms.
