Bombay High Court restrains MVA from carrying out state-wide bandh
The Bombay High Court has issued an order, preventing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from proceeding with a planned state-wide bandh on Saturday. The political coalition, comprising the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar Faction), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray Faction), had called for this strike to protest the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Badlapur, Thane. The court's decision came after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed challenging the legality and constitutionality of the proposed bandh.
Court's order and its implications
The order was pronounced by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar. The court stated, "We are restraining any political party and/or any individual from calling for a bandh. The state shall take all preventive steps." All parties are restrained from proceeding with the bandh on August 24 or any other subsequent date, until further orders.
Petitioners highlight potential disruption due to 'bandh'
Opposing the state-wide bandh, petitioners had argued that it could paralyze the entire state machinery and cause significant inconvenience to the public. They cited past instances where such actions led to destruction of public property and economic losses. One counsel pointed out that schools, where children receive mid-day meals, would be affected by the strike. The bandh was also seen as potentially causing hardships for economically weaker sections of society.
Counsel questions 'bandh''s necessity amid ongoing investigation
Following the order, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar said it has called off the bandh. "As the Indian Judiciary is a constitutional institution, it is requested to withdraw tomorrow's bandh while respecting the Constitution," he wrote on X. However, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray disagreed with the court's decision. "We have called off the August 24 Maharashtra bandh but opposition leaders will protest with black bands around their mouths," Thackeray stated.
Details on the case
The Badlapur sexual assault case involves two kindergarten girls who were allegedly abused by a housekeeping staff member last week at their school. On August 17, police arrested an attendant for allegedly molesting the girls, igniting massive public outrage in Badlapur. On Thursday, the Bombay High Court took suo motu cognizance of the alleged sexual assault. The high court was informed that "the investigation has started from every angle, and there will be no mistakes anywhere."
