Bandh halt to SKM... HC also directed SDF not to go for peace rally

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 27 Feb 2019, Gangtok: High Court of Sikkim on Tuesday asked the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha to restrain from going ahead with its bandh on Thursday, but the state's main opposition party said it would take a call after thoroughly studying the judgment.

Hearing a PIL against the bandh, a bench of Chief Justice Vijai Kumar Bist and Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai in its interim order also directed the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front not to go ahead with its scheduled peace rally on the same day.

"We restrain the respondent No. 8 (read SKM) from going ahead with the call for bandh on 28.02.2019...We also direct the respondent No. 9 (read SDF) not to go ahead with any peaceful procession or rally on 28.02.2019," the bench said in its order.

The court also directed the chief secretary and the director general of police to take action as per law against those trying to enforce the bandh and disrupt normal life.

Jacob Khaling, the SKM spokesman, in the afternoon said his party was yet to receive the court order.

The SDF welcomed the court order and called off its peace march..