Kerala to introduce Hartal Regulation Bill in coming session

Congress-led UDF government in Kerala has decided to introduce and pass the State Hartal Regulation Bill, intended to curb hartals, in the coming Assembly session, beginning from November 30.
Talking to reporters here, State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the draft bill was approved by the state cabinet early this month and government plans to introduce and pass the legislation during the coming session itself.
The government has no intention to regulate established activities of trade union strikes, he said.
Organisations that call for hartal have to give prior notice and all shutdowns without prior information would be treated as illegal, Chennithala said.

The final shape of the legislation was given after taking into consideration all suggestions and recommendations received from various quarters, he added.
The state government move comes in the wake of widespread criticism from different sections of society on frequent hartal calls made by various political parties and other outfits even on flimsy grounds.

Among other things, as per the bill, the forceful shutting down of shops or restricting officials from attending offices will invite six months imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or both.
The bill also proposes similar punishments in such cases if any person is restricted from visiting hospital, hotel, educational institution or petrol station during hartal day, it said.

Functioning of hospitals, health clinics, medical shops, pharmacy, distribution of milk, newspaper, fish, water, food, ambulances and hospital vehicles should not be hindered in the name of hartals, according to the proposed bill.