KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday termed the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha bandh call on Wednesday as unconstitutional and ordered the state government to ensure normal life and maintain law and order in the hills on Wednesday.
Responding to two separate petitions by Trinamool Congress MP and Advocate Idris Ali and by Advocate Ramaprasad Sarkar, the High Court led by Chief Justice Girish Chandra Gupta and Justice Arindam Sinha recalled Supreme Court ruling on bandhs and said that the state government has to take necessary steps to ensure normal life in the hills on Wednesday.
The petition by Idris Ali pointed out at the harassment to be faced by the tourists during the festive season in the wake of a bandh.
Minister for North Bengal Development Goutam Deb said that the safety and security would be maintained in the hills on Wednesday. "The illogical and unconstitutional bandh during festive season won't be tolerated," he said while speaking to mediamen in Siliguri.
Meanwhile, the state government has asked it's employees to attend office in Wednesday and Thursday without fail or give showcause as to why they did not attend office.
GJM has refused to change it's stance or comment till it receives the court orders.
GJM chief Bimal Gurung had called for the 12-hour bandh demanding details of the Rs 4,000 crore spent in development of hills, as claimed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.