GUWAHATI: An organisation called Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) has lodged first ever complaint with all Deputy Commissioners in Assam to recover damages caused during Assam bandh called by the AASU and KMSS during last one year.
In 1997 Supreme Court had banned calling Bandh and in July 2004 Bombay High Court had fined Rs 20 lakhs each to Shiv Sena and BJP for calling bandhs.
In a view of SC and HC judgments, LRO has stressed all DCs of Assam to take stern action against AASU and KMSS for repeatedly calling Bandhs and distrupting economic activity.
If the DCs take no action in this regard, then court case could be filed against AASU and KMSS and respective DCs may be made co-party in the litigation.
The LRO complaints go like , “This is with reference to the numerous Bandh calls given by AASU and KMSS like organisations in the Assam state. In this regard authority may recall that the Honorable Supreme Court of India has already passed specific directions to all the states to ensure that no Bandh is held.
“The Supreme Court has also issued directions for recovery of penalty and damages from the persons responsible for the band. Needless to say that the life of the citizens of the country is taken for ransom by the persons making Bandh on political consideration.”
The LRO requested the DCs to immediately order assessment (through civil and police administration) of commercial, physical, infrastructural damage caused during various Bandh calls given within last one year,
- To list out names of persons on local level associated with AASU and KMSS, which called for Bandh and enforced it on ground by unconstitutional and illegal means and through the brute force in their hand,
- To encourage local trader and general public to submit their claims of compensation for damages caused during Bandh calls given by AASU and KMSS,
- To order police administration to lodge FIR against state level and local leaders associated with aforesaid groups for the damages inflicted during Bandh calls given by their respective groups,
- To ensure that no Bandh is held and the life and movement of the people of the state is not paralyzed due to Bandh given by such unscrupulous and trouble making persons and groups.
“If YOU, as a head of district administration with sole legal and constitutional power in YOUR hand to safeguard rule of law, fails to take swift and decisive action on aforesaid 5 points; then will be compelled to sue in the appropriate legal authority/ court of law; for failing to establish rule of law under your jurisdiction,” the LRO complaint said.