Bihar govt tells HC participation of students in Human Chain voluntary

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Bihar Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and DGP P K Thakur on January 20, 2017, assured Patna high court of traffic regulation during Human Chain formation on January 21. Singh and Thakur also assured the court that participation of students and teachers in Human Chain formation would be voluntary.

The two officers of Bihar government gave this undertaking before a division bench of the court comprising Acting chief justice Hemant Gupta and justice Sudhir Kumar Singh while appearing before it. The court had summoned the two officers on January 19 to clarify position on traffic and teachers/students participation in the Human Chain on January 21 in the state. The court was hearing a PIL filed by NGO “Forum for Public Interest Litigation” which raised the issue as to under what provision the state government decided to stop traffic on national and state highways for  the January 21 Human Chain.
Singh and Thakur informed the court that traffic would be properly regulated as alternative routes had been created along National Highways and State Highways and other roads. Where alternative route is not available, one lane has been kept open for traffic, they informed the division bench adding emergency services have been allowed to run without any hindrance and advocates, litigants and staff of courts have been included in the exemption list along with ambulances, water tankers, civil and police officials, judiciary among others. The matter would be heard next on January 28, 2017. The Human Chain would be formed to create awareness about prohibition, which Bihar government enforced in April 2016.