Crackdown on those calling for 'bandh' on NEET 2017: SC tells Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court on Friday made it clear that disruption of law and order situation would not be allowed over National Eligibility cum Entrance Test in Tamil Nadu. The Apex court was hearing a PIL seeking directions to the Tamil Nadu government to maintain law and order in the state in view of agitations over NEET and medical seat aspirant Anitha's suicide.

In an 'interim' order, the court directed the state's Principal Secretary and Chief Secretary to ensure that law and order is maintained in the wake of the present situation in respect of the NEET examination. "The Chief Secretary shall see to it that anyone involved in any kind of bandh or activity that disrupts the normal life and detrimentally affects law and order in the state of Tamil Nadu, shall be booked under the appropriate law," the order reads.

The court, however, has not affected a blanket ban on protests. While illegal bandhs will not be allowed in the state, the court maintained that 'peaceful protest or criticism or dissent in different than the creation of a law and order situation. "Every citizen of this country has a fundamental right to peacefully protest and demonstrate but not to cause a situation that results in violence and paralyzes the law and order situation," the court said.

The Tamil Nadu government has been served a notice and the court will resume hearing on the PIL on September 18.

OneIndia News