Ten-minute deadline fixed for protests in Bangalore

The Bangalore City police has imposed a ten-minute deadline on the time duration for protests in the City.

Commissioner for Bangalore City Police Shankar Bidri said no protest would be allowed to extend beyond ten minutes anywhere in Bangalore on account of the inconvenience it would cause to motorists and traffic movement.

“A protest at peak hours ends in lengthy traffic snarls that prevents commuters from reaching their destination. The protest marches, which pass through the roads, halt traffic and the general public have to bear the brunt”, he said justifying his decision to impose a ten-minute deadline on protests and rallies.

But, Bidri’s announcement has been roundly criticized by various voluntary organizations, whose representatives have argued that the time-limit imposed by the City Police amounts to violation of democratic rights.

“Our Constitution gives us the right to peaceful assembly, then how can somebody place a restriction on that”, questioned R Manohar, Head of programmes, South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM).

Geetha Menon, Secretary of Stree Jagruthi Samithi, a women’s organization, said voluntary groups like theirs hold protests and rallies to highlight certain issues affecting the society. “We do not organize rallies because we have too much time on our hands”, she said.

“A lot of planning goes into organizing a rally and it is simply impossible to conclude a demonstration in ten minutes. It will take more than ten minutes just for people to assembly at the spot”, she said.
However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) K Srinivas said though people have a right to protest, there is no constitutional right to obstruct traffic to hold protests.