Andhra Pradesh High Court Sets Aside Government Order Aimed At Restricting Holding Of Rallies, Meetings On Public Roads

The Andhra Pradesh High Court today quashed a government order that aimed to regulate the rallies and meetings on public roads, observing that the net effect of the decision is to impose a ban on all meetings at public highways, state highways, municipal and panchayat roads. If the political history of contemporary Andhra Pradesh is also considered, it is clear that there were many processions, padayatras, assemblies etc., which were conducted on public roads/highways across the State," said the court. The court said though the avowed objection of the government decision is laudable, the fact remains that for decades the highest courts of the land have recognized the right of an individual or a group of people to assemble peacefully and to protest peacefully on public roads. It is also issued by and in the name of the Governor of the State by a very high functionary - a Principal Secretary of the Government and the language used and the dicta – 'It is therefore ideal that no license be granted for any application seeking permission to conduct a meeting on State Highways and National Highways'," the court said, adding it virtually takes away the discretion that is to be exercised by the officers at a lower level.