Odisha Bandh: Hartal may be observed but bandh not allowed says High Court

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha bandh that was scheduled to be called by Congress tomorrow has been declared as illegal by the Orissa High Court.

A Cuttack businessman had filed a petition in Orissa HC protesting against the Congress Odisha bandh call on Nov 12. The Court observed that a hartal might be allowed but not a bandh.

The Court further observed that the hartal cannot be forced on anyone. It held that vehicles cannot be stopped on the roads and roads cannot be blocked.

Busses and trains cannot be halted nor can. The protest can be observed only in a peaceful manner.

It is noteworthy that, the Odisha unit of Congress was scheduled to hold six-hour bandh across the State tomorrow on November 12 seeking justice for deceased lady teacher Mamita Meher, informed party spokesperson Debasish Patnaik at a press meet earlier today.

The party has demanded resignation of Dibya Shankar Mishra, Minister of State for Home, over his alleged links with the prime accused Govinda Sahu in the sensational Mamita Meher murder case.

A decision was taken in this regard by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) meeting held on November 1. The meeting was attended by Niranjan Patnaik, President, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee.

Earlier after the meeting on November 1, OPCC spokesperson Rajani Mohanty said that the party has appealed to people in order to support the bandh call for the sake of dignity and protection of women in the state.