New Delhi, Apr 01: Citizens have the Fundamental
Right to protest and demonstrate against what they feel is
unjust and unlawful, the Delhi High Court said today.
"The constitution has given a Fundamental Right to every
citizen to assemble and demonstrate peacefully," a division
bench comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmed
said dismissing a petition seeking ban on demonstrations and
rallies organised by political parties in the capital.
"We are not ruled by armed forces. We are living in a
democratic country. How can we ban such rallies?" the bench
asked.
Petitioner Salekh Chand Jain had sought a direction to the
Centre, Delhi government and the City Commissioner of Police
to take appropriate steps to stop the demonstrations and
rallies for better traffic management and to mitigate the
inconvenience caused to common people due to such events.
"The father of the nation has also taught the people to
unite together and make demonstrations for just causes. We
have been doing this since British days," the bench said.
The court pointed out that there were demonstrations
being held all over the world against the American-led attack
on Iraq and India was no exception.
Terming the averments made in the petition as vague and
general ones, the court said "we can not entertain this kind
of petitions."
Bureau Report
