Thane bandh: HC asks Sena to file reply on PIL seeking damages

The Bombay High Court today directed Shiv Sena to reply to a public interest litigation seeking damages from the party for inconvenience caused to the people of neighbouring Thane district during the call for a bandh in 2012 after one of their corporators had gone missing.
A division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale asked the petitioners Vikrant Karnik and three other social activists from Thane to send a copy of the PIL to the Shiv Sena.
Shiv Sena had called for Thane bandh on March 4 last year after one of their corporators Suhasini Lokhande had gone missing before the election of Mayor's post of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

Shekhar Bhise, advocate for the petitioner, argued that the bandh called by the party had inconvenienced commoners who could not go about their normal daily routine.
He further argued that the party leaders and their members gave hints and threats that violence would follow if the bandh was not supported.
"In order to enforce the bandh, several members of the political party indulged in breaking of windshields of public buses belonging to the Thane civic body. They even threatened and assaulted citizens who attempted to travel to their work places," the PIL alleged.
The petition has sought for the bandh to be declared illegal and the damages be recovered from the political party.

The High Court today directed the Sena to file its reply by March 13.