The Maharashtra government on Friday asserted before the Bombay high court that it had adopted stern measures, including use of video cameras, to deal with bandh or similar situations in future.
Newly-appointed Advocate General Vijay Thorat submitted a two-page affidavit before acting Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S U Kamdar and listed out several measures that the state planned to adopt in order to prevent any loss or damage of life and public property during bandh or similar situation.
The state listed out four broad measures it planned to implement. It said that any party, organisation, group or individual calling for bandh will be served a notice under Section 149 Cr.PC, which will state the illegality of bandh.
The notice will also state that the person or organisation calling for bandh will be liable for legal action for any loss of life, injury or property damage.
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The state will also issue public notice informing about the preparations made by the police to deal with any untoward situation and to make people feel secure.
It stated that preventive action will be taken against group or individual under various sections of Cr.PC and Bombay Police Act.
The affidavit listed deployment of wireless patrolling and beat marshalls and use of video cameras in order to identify the miscreants who indulge in unlawful activities.
The court, which heard a petition against bandh called for by Shiv Sena following the bomb blasts last year, imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on the party. The court also imposed a fine of the same amount against the BJP. Filed by a city NGO, the PIL sought Rs 50 crore compensation for the losses suffered by the city on the bandh day.
