Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday issued a notice to opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on a petition moved by Pavianose, a member of the Madapilly panchayat in Changansserry, objecting to the hartal call given by the UDF on October 16. The court has directed to send the notice to Mr Chennithala by speed post to seek his explanation. The petitioner stated that the hartal call amounts to a violation of the constitutional rights guaranteed to citizens for freedom of movement.
The court has directed the state government to publish in detail the steps taken by it to prevent the disruption of normal life in the state on account of the hartal. The petitioner submitted that Mr Chennithala should be arrested for making an arbitrary and illegal call prejudicial to the citizens. He also pleaded that Mr Chennithala should be asked to bear the cost of the loss suffered by the people on account to the hartal. The government submitted that the position of the opposition leader will not come under the definition of public servant and that the hartal call was issued in the capacity of a political leader.
