Patna HC takes stern view on RJD`s Bihar bandh, asks if any leader was booked

Patna: Taking a stern view of Bihar bandh called by RJD late last month to press for publication of caste census report, the Patna High Court on Friday asked the state government whether any leader who had given the bandh call was booked.

Justice Rakesh Kumar asked Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh to submit details in an affidavit to the court.

"How many persons, arrested in support of the bandh, were released on police bail and how many persons were forwarded to the magistrate?" the Court sought to know from the chief secretary.

The bandh on July 27 by RJD was called to put pressure on the Centre to release socio-economic caste census.

"The chief secretary is also required to specify as to whether action has been taken against any of the leaders who had given bandh call and were instrumental in implementation of the bandh by fear, whether physical or psychological, or any FIR has been lodged or not," the judge said in his oral order.

The court directed the chief secretary was required to also find out if any FIR was lodged whether any person was arrested or not. If no action was taken, he is required to give an explanation, it added.

The court further directed the chief secretary to assess the loss suffered by the state due to such illegal call for bandh.

Justice Rakesh Kumar had taken up the issue suo motu as due to the bandh he had to change his route thrice on way from his residence to the Patna High Court and reached 25 minutes late that day.

The court also directed the HC administration to file an affidavit on whether it had taken any step on the eve of the bandh for smooth movement of High Court judges to the court and if taken whether all of them were provided with adequate escort for coming to the court smoothly or not.

The order was passed in the presence of Lalit Kishore, Principal Additional Advocate General.