‘No rallies and processions in Jaipur during peak hours’

Jaipur, Dec 9 (IANS) Rallies and processions in Jaipur city cannot be taken out on working days during peak hours, the Rajasthan High Court ruled on Saturday.

However, the court exempted religious processions as they are generally taken out during public holidays.

The court order -- barring rallies in the city from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. -- follows a petition filed by the Citizen Protection Society president Kaustabh Dadheech.

The ruling has come as a major setback for the state government which filed a plea in the court against the interim orders issued on July 14 which banned all rallies and processions within the city limits.

Dadheech's advocate R.B. Mathur, defending his cause, said the ruling would ensure that people are not troubled during working hours.

However, ASG G.S. Gill, from government's side, said that staging protest and taking out rally is the basic right of a citizen.

Listening to both parties, the court ordered that no such protests and processions can be taken out on working days during peak hours.

However, religious processions and events are exceptions in this reference and there are no prohibitions on them.

The division bench, comprised justices K.S. Jhaveri and Indrajeet Singh.

Dadheech had filed a PIL to stop processions, rally march on streets as it brings discomfort to common people.

The court on July 14 issued an interim order banning all rallies and processions within city limits on the petition, considering the inconvenience caused to the general public.

The state government filed an appeal against the decision, against which the High Court on Saturday came out with the ruling banning processions during peak hours in Jaipur.