The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the city police to consider allotting an alternative venue to the United Forum of Bank Unions Delhi State for holding a peaceful dharna next week.
Justice Amit Mahajan asked the authorities to decide on the union’s request after their counsel, advocate Pritish Sabharwal, said allowing the protest at Jantar Mantar could lead to a “law and order situation”.
“Give him something. They are saying give them some other place. They can’t be coming to court for this,” the court orally observed.
“The respondents are directed to consider the petitioner’s request for an alternative site for holding peaceful demonstration,” the court ordered.
The judge directed the authorities to decide on an alternative venue by Monday and communicate their decision to the petitioner.
In its petition, the United Forum of Bank Unions Delhi State sought permission from the Centre and Delhi Police to hold a peaceful dharna from September 28 to 30 at Jantar Mantar or any other location in the city.
The petitioner said it was an umbrella organisation representing trade unions in the banking sector and the majority of bank employees and officers involved in negotiations over service conditions.
The union alleged that authorities had earlier “arbitrarily denied” permission for protests scheduled for September 11 and 18 at the last minute, which it claimed was intended to “sabotage the agitation programme” of bank employees. It also said authorities had not responded to its fresh request for permission to hold the demonstration next week.
The United Forum of Bank Unions has announced a nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30, with demands including the introduction of a five-day banking week.
Other demands include an update and improvement of pension benefits, a uniform dearness allowance formula for all pensioners, and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch to the old pension scheme (OPS).
(With inputs from PTI)
