'What was the urgency?' AP HC pulls up petitioners over GO No 1

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday rebuked the petitioners who filed a case against the state government order (GO no. 1) which was issued following the death of 11 people in two separate TDP public meetings in Nellore and Guntur districts. The High Court, while refusing to extend the interim order, posted the matter for hearing on 24 January.

The state government had reiterated several times that the GO was a prohibitory measure to regulate public meetings and not a ban as was being propagated by the Opposition.

Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra condemned the Vacation Bench and the petitioners and asked what was the urgency in filing a lunch motion over the case. “Going into the roots of the very proprietary of this case, it didn’t seem to be of such an urgent nature. I knew everything that was happening and how things happened that day,” the CJ said.

In a stinging observation, CJ Prashant asked whether the petitioner had staged any dharna or protest that they had to file a lunch motion in the winter court. “What was the urgency if the order has not endured to the benefit of the petitioner?” he questioned.

During the arguments by the state, the state government said it has not banned any public meetings on public roads. It has only regulated it with guidance on the parameters to be followed. There is no ban on processions and roadshows. The petitioner also has not contended that there is a ban on public processions and road shows.

The state has appointed a commission to look into the issue.