Gujjar stir: High Court asks why agitators given free hand, summons Cabinet Secretary

JAIPUR: Pulling up the state government for giving a "free-hand" to Gujjar agitators, Rajasthan High Court today directed the Chief Secretary and the police chief to appear before it tomorrow and also immediately restore traffic on Jaipur-Agra national highway, blocked by protesters.

"We would like to hear from the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police what the administration did in the last few days to remove the rail and road blockade and why were the agitators given a free hand to take law into their own hands," a single judge bench said today.

The interim order, which also directed the police to stop any illegal assembly in Bharatpur and other areas affected by the stir, came on a contempt petition pending since 2008 against Gujjar leaders including Kirori S Bainsla, who is leading the agitation, for allegedly violating an order of high court to maintain peace and tranquility.

Justice R S Rathore voiced unhappiness over the manner the administration had dealt with the agitators and allowed them to put rail and road blockades to press their demand for five per cent reservation for the community.

The bench also summoned Divisional Railway Manager railway of the region.

The bench directed IGP of Jaipur and Bharatpur to immediately see that "there in no formation of illegal mob and the provision of section 144 CrPC is not breached and all the members of unlawful assembly are apprehended".