Newmai News Network Imphal | May 30 The Manipur Cabinet today decided to enact a new law declaring all such bandhs and blockades illegal. This decision came after the Cabinet discussed at length the suffering to the general public due to frequent bandhs and blockades in the State by various organisations. "Having considered the judgments passed by the High Courts of Kerala, West Bengal and Meghalaya, the Manipur Cabinet today decided to enact a new law declaring all such bandhs and blockades illegal and fixing responsibility against the sponsors and organisers of the bandhs and blockades for public inconvenience and damage to properties," a press note from the Chief Minister's Secretariat said. It informed that the State Cabinet also considered enacting the law providing recovery of cost of all the damages to properties from the sponsors and organisers and also depriving the organisers and persons involved, if convicted, from getting entry into Government employment and from getting any benefits under the Government schemes in addition to criminal proceedings being instituted. "The Cabinet observed that calling bandh and blockade is an invasion to the Fundamental Rights of the people guaranteed under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India," the statement added. The Supreme Court of India has declared bandh as unconstitutional and illegal, and to recoup any loss suffered by the citizens from the sponsors and organisers of the bandh, the statement mentioned. If the sponsors or orginisers of the bandh think they have license to take law into their hands, the State Government shall have to mandatorily take action against them in public interest, the statement added.
