For 27 yrs, Sec 144 in force in parts of Kota, claim residents

Kota, Sep 10 (PTI) For the last 27 years, over one lakhresidents of parts of Kota city have been living under theshadow of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC,which has prevented them from hosting any public functions andprocessions, except during marriages and funerals. Places like Bajaj Khana, Ghanta Ghar, Makbara Patan Poleand Tipta, stretching over an area of two kilometer in Kotacity where a large section of residents belong to the minoritycommunity, had been placed under the section which prohibitsthe assembly of four or more persons after outbreak ofcommunal violence in 1989. But residents claim that the restrictions were continuingtill day though no law and order problem has been reported andit was a "stigma" for them. Locals allege that banks refuse togrant them loans and officials ignore their grievances. Section 144 was imposed following the lifting of curfewafter communal riots took place in September 1989. However,the then district collector of Kota (S N Thanwi) in September1990 issued a circular extending the imposition of the Section"till the next order", which never came. "The locals in the area are forced to lead an inferiorlife as they have not been to carry any cultural, socialreligious programmes or procession for last 27 years," statesecretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions R K Swami said. "We are facing apathy of the administration due to thecurrent situation," said Sarfaraj Ansari, a local resident whowas only 22 years old when the order was imposed. The locals moved court in March 2009 against the longimposition of the CrPC section in the area, Swami said. He said though the state government gave a positive replyto the court, the restrictions were not lifted in the areawhere a sizeable population belongs to the minority section. There has been no major crime or unlawful activity in thethese areas for the last several years but the locals stillhave to face the changing dates in the court instead of anorder lifting the imposed section, Ansari added. Asked about the issue, District Collector Ravi KumarSurpur evaded a direct reply and said that the section isinvoked to ensure there is no breach of peace. "Section 144 is a preventive and precautionary measure tomaintain law and order situation. That is the very reason thatcertain practices are followed that there should not be breachof peace, should not be disturbance in the communal harmony,"he said An RTI activist said that not lifting the restrictionsfor such a long duration is a "violation of civil rights." "Imposition of Section 144 in civil area of the city foras long as 27 years is clearly violation of civil rights andis not in favour of the country and the democracy," saidPhralad Singh Chadda, RTI activist in Kota. Section 144 can be imposed for a maximum of six months,an advocate Jamil Ahamed said. PTI CORR MNG RTMNG