Human Rights

Kerala’s attempt to regulate hartals, legislate world peace next

05.02.2016

Public comment on Kerala’s Regulation of Hartal Bill, 2015 remained divided over its existence. Whereas stakeholders who lose out revenue from hartals (labour strikes) were in support of the Bill, trade union members fervently attacked the Bill for the manner in which it quelled dissent and protest for common cause. The divisive Bill aims to regulate hartals and reduce the incidence of violence and property damage that has come to be associated with a typical workers’ strike. Under the proposed legislation, a three day public notice would have to be given prior to hartal; and an amount deposited in lieu of damage and destruction anticipated. ‘Earnest money’ may be an unnecessary step, given hartals are ‘not permitted’ to damage, deter or intimidate being or property.

Where Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Vexatious Litigation (Prevention) Act, 2015’ may have seemed untimely in light of the ‘Vyapam’ controversy, Kerala’s Hartal Bill probably can’t come soon enough. With the recent Supreme Court judgment upholding the ban on sale of alcohol at many hotels, and accusations of declining tourism, the State is likely not lacking in teetotaler citizens willing to exercise their rights.

Freedom of demonstration

Tags : Kerala hartal bill 2016 strike labour

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