PIL in HC for specifying place for holding peaceful protests

In the wake of the arrest of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare and his supporters, a PIL was on Tuesday filed in the Delhi high court seeking specification of a place in the national capital for holding peaceful protests.

In the wake of the arrest of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare and his supporters, a PIL was on Tuesday filed in the Delhi high court seeking specification of a place in the national capital for holding peaceful protests.

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The PIL, which may come up for hearing on Wednesday before a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, accused the Government and the administration of "pick and choose" policy while granting permission to hold such protests.

The petition, filed by A Jain through lawyer Sugriv Dubey, said, "pick and choose policy in allowing some and disallowing others to hold protests is arbitrary".

"There should be a designated place for holding peaceful protests by common citizens of this country," it said.

The petition further stated, "Ban rallies in Central Delhi to avoid traffic jam or chaos caused by it but government should designate a place for holding peaceful protests".

The PIL assumes significance in the wake of the arrest of Hazare and his around 1,400 supporters after they were denied permission to hold a protest at JP Park here to press the demand for a stringent lokpal bill.