Law on bandh damage soon

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad July 30:The State government on Monday submitted to the High Court that the government is contemplating bringing a legislation, AP Public Property (prevention of damage and recover of loss) Bill 2007, to recover loss due to damage of public property caused by political parties and other organisations during agitations.

The government has informed the court that the Bill was circulated to the Centre to get approval. Principal secretary (home) P.V. Naidu and principal secretary (transport, roads and building) T. Chatterjee submitted their affidavits to the court. On July 7, the High Court had questioned the government role while dealing with a PIL on the April 4 bandh call given by political parties to protest the Supreme Court decision on reservations to OBCs.

The court had asked the government to explain the legal provisions for withdrawing bus services and the names of the parties which had called the bandh. The government told the court that the APSRTC did not withdraw services on April 4, it covered 22.82 lakh kilometres as against normal service of 68 lakh kilometres per day on April 4.

The government said that the Congress, TD, CPI(M), CPI, TRS , BJP and BC organisations had organised the bandh. From April 10 to till date, 194 bandhs and dharnas have been organised, the government said.