SC bar on Gurung rallies

TT, New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday orally restrained Darjeeling leader Bimal Gurung from organising any form of demonstrations in Bengal till Tuesday when it would decide the state government's plea for the recall of an earlier order that stayed his arrest.

A bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan also issued notice to the Centre for its views.

The restraint on Gurung came when senior advocate Abhishekh Manu Singhvi appearing for the Bengal government sought a directive that the hill leader should not be allowed to roam freely in the state and carry out agitation by taking advantage of the order passed on November 20.

The court had on November 20 restrained the police from resorting to "any coercive action" against Gurung.

"You have to ensure there is no demonstrations from your side in the state," Justice Sikri told Gurung's advocate P.S. Patwalia.

Patwalia assured the court that Gurung would not take part in any form of demonstrations till the court decided on the issue.

"Your Lordships will see my conduct," Patawalia said.

During the brief arguments, Singhvi assailed Gurung's petition and accused him of concealing several facts before the court. The counsel alleged that Gurung was facing several cases of violence and had created anarchy in the state by dragging even children to the agitation.

The bench then said: "You have made your arguments which are worth consideration because there are very serious allegations."

The Bengal counsel said pursuant to the bench's November 20 order, Gurung was claiming that he had been given absolute protection by the apex court to carry out any form of agitation, including carrying of arms, and he couldn't be arrested.

However, Patwalia stoutly opposed the arguments and said Gurung was being targeted because of political reasons. He said the allegations that minor children were being used in the agitation was an attempt to prejudice the court against his client. "I don't want the state police to investigate, let the cases be transferred to the CBI," Patwalia argued.

The bench then asked Patwalia to file his reply by Tuesday when the court would take up the matter again for consideration.