Telugu Desam Party led by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, which has been challenging every decision of the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government in the court of law for the last three and a half years, has surprisingly not made any such move on the latest controversial GO Rt No. 1.
It has been three days since the government issued the GO, banning roadshows, public rallies, demonstrations and meetings on all kinds of roads including panchayat roads, municipal roads and state and national highways.
The GO clearly said even for holding meetings on alternative public places and private places, the organisers including political parties have to take permission of the police.
The order quoted the last week’s death of eight persons at a stampede in Kandukuru town of Nellore district as the immediate reason.
Within a day of issuing the order, the police imposed restrictions on the roadshow and rallies of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu at his native constituency Kuppam, triggering a huge uproar from the TDP leaders.
Almost all the political parties opposed the GO and described it as draconian order, demanding that the government withdraw the order.
Interestingly, neither the TDP nor any other party moved the high court challenging the GO till now. Even senior advocates, who have been extending legal support to the TDP have remained silent so far.
Enquiries revealed that the GO was drafted meticulously based on Section 30 of the Police Act, 1861.
According to a senior lawyer, the section simply deals with the powers of the police to allow or disallow a public gathering on the roads depending on the local situation.
The latest GO has clearly reiterated the powers of the police officials. Only thing is that it has specifically mentioned about where the roadshows and rallies would not be allowed.
“Even somebody challenges the GO in the court, it might not be struck down by the court, unless some legal expert finds any specific loopholes in the act,” the lawyer added.
