Road, rail blockade illegal in Assam: High Court

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati high court on Tuesday declared that it is illegal to call any form of road or rail blockade in the state. The court also ordered the Assam Police to register FIRs against organisations or groups calling such blockades. The court has also asked the authorities to recover the loss incurred by such blockades from these organisations as arrears of land revenue.

The high court was responding to a petition filed by Lower Assam Inter-District Stage Carriage Bus Owners' Association of Goalpara, complaining a loss of Rs. 56.16 lakh during 2012-13 due to at least 51 bandhs called by various groups.

The court order said, "Police must file chargesheet in such cases for speedy trial before a competent court. While the Assam Police Accountability Commission will monitor the investigation, the home and political department should carry out an assessment of the loss caused during bandhs or blockades. The loss shall be recoverable from the organisations calling such bandh as arrears of land revenue."