AP HC imposes stay on political road shows

HYDERABAD: Pradesh high court has imposed a stay on road shows organised by various political parties in the state while hearing a petition filed by an NGO seeking judicial intervention in the matter.

Making the state director general of police (DGP), chief and home secretaries and all political parties as respondents in the case, Abhipraay, the NGO, filed its petition highlighting recent incidents where political road shows have caused discomfort to people at large. There have been times when such shows have also caused stampedes leading to casualties and even deaths, it claims. The petitioner has however clarified it was not against road shows, but insisted that there be some guidelines which political parties must adhere to if they wish to conduct road shows. The high court would take up the case for hearing in a week. The respondents have been asked to file their counters clearing their stand on road shows by then.

A division bench comprising chief justice Anil Ramesh Dave and justice R Subhash Reddy directed the chief and home secretaries and the DGP not to accord permission to road shows till further orders.

During the hearing, on Tuesday, the counsel for Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party, Raghunandan, had raised objection to the petitioner’s claims saying road shows are a part of the democratic process allowing the leader to reach out to the people. But, the bench insisted the counsel respond to the question on stampedes and deaths during road shows.

“File a counter and we will vacate the stay if your reply is effective,” the bench said.