Cabinet did not decide on State-wide bandh of October 2021: Maharashtra government to Bombay High Court

There was no decision taken by the Cabinet for the State-wide bandh observed on October 11, 2021, the Home Department of the Maharashtra government has told the Bombay High Court. .An affidavit to that effect was filed by the Deputy Secretary of the State government in a public interest litigation filed by a former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Riberio seeking prosecution of those responsible for the State-wide bandh."After perusing the copy of the minutes of the State Cabinet Meeting held on October 6, 2021 it is seen that as per the said minutes, no cabinet decision was taken at State government to call for a state wide bandh on October 11, 2021. ...the State Cabinet has only expressed grief and offered its condolences and tributes tot he farmers who died in the unfortunate incident that took place at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh," the affidavit stated. .The Mumbai Police also filed an affidavit placing on record their role during the bandh. The affidavit filed by Sanjay Latkar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), laid out the steps taken by the police force to man the streets of Mumbai to ensure no untoward incident took place and there was no breakdown of law and order situation in Mumbai. "The State government was prompt diligent and alert in ensuring that the law and order situation is maintained and no harm and injury is caused to the body and property of the citizens," the affidavit said. The affidavit listed out the cases registered by them after the incident adding that apart from those, the police did not receive any further complaints. "The incidents alleged by the petitioners on the basis of newspaper reports were never reported by the aggrieved persons, if any, to the concern police stations apart from the ones mentioned above," the deponent pointed out. In view of this, the Mumbai Police submitted that the State government cannot be held liable for the alleged incidents as mentioned in the petition. .The public interest litigation by Ribeiro sought directions to be issued to the respondents to ensure there is no wrongful and coercive interference with the fundamental freedoms by any political party or group through intimidation or interference in normal life.The petitioner raised the grievance that due to the bandh declared by the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition party on October 11, the normal economic, social and other activities were crippled.The State government blatantly violated the basic freedoms and fundamental rights of the citizens under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution, with consequent losses caused to the Centre and the State, the plea stated.Through the petition filed through Jayakar and Partners, Riberio prayed for directions to arrest and prosecute:Persons involved in stopping the free movement of persons and vehicles and causing assault and/or damade to the property;Persons at whose direction such illegal or unconstitutional acts have been committed.