The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday directed agitating Gujjar leaders to ensure that the statewide stir proposed by them from tomorrow remains peaceful and there is no violence.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice MN Bhandari also directed the state government to ban unlawful assembly at sensitive places in order to check apprehended danger to public property, railway tracks and roads.
"A peaceful agitation can be allowed but no person can be allowed to make it violent. If anyone tries to make it violent the government is expected to take action under the law. We expect the government to take all necessary preventive steps under section 144 and 151 of CrPC to see that all the roads and railway traffic stand clear and no loss is caused to public property in state," observed the Bench in its order.
The bench also asked the state government to make preventive arrests of persons who are likely to cause breach of public peace during the agitation.
The order came on a PIL filed by one JP Dadhich alleging that during the previous agitation in 2007 Gujjars had resorted to violence in which 70 persons lost their lives.
Advocate General GS Bapna appearing for state submitted that though adequate measures have been taken by the state government, leaders spearheading the agitation and meetings may be bound down to not to take law and order to ransom and destruct national property by causing violence.
After Bapna's submission the court observed: "The advocate general may file a short response to the writ petition so that necessary directions may be passed by the court. It is, however, expected by the leaders of the Gujjar community that they will ensure that the agitation remains peaceful."
