Jat protests: Clear rly tracks,says HC

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports on the 14-day-long Jat agitation in UP,which has disrupted railway traffic and caused inconvenience to the public.

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports on the 14-day-long Jat agitation in UP,which has disrupted railway traffic and caused inconvenience to the public,the Allahabad High Court,on Friday directed the protesters to remove blockades on the railway track and roads at the earliest.

The court directed UP Principal Secretary (Home),the DGP and the Union Home Secretary,the Chairman of the Railway Board and other concerned authorities to hold a joint meeting and take steps to ensure clearance of the rail tracks and highways at the earliest. They shall be held individually liable and shall also be proceeded against as per law in case of failure or laxity to comply with the directions,the court said,and fixed March 23 for the next hearing and a status report.

Principal Secretary (Home) Fateh Bahadur Singh and DGP Karamvir Singh,who were present in the court,assured they would take all steps towards compliance of the order.

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In another order,the court directed the DGP to take immediate measures to clear the railway tracks and provide full protection for smooth movement of trains. The court asked him to file a compliance report on March 29. It also issued notices to General Manager of Railways at Lucknow and Delhi.

On a call given by the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS),protesters from the Jat community have been sitting on the tracks at Kafoorpur in J P Nagar district,between Delhi and Moradabad,since March 5,to press their demand for OBC status in central government jobs.

Asked about the High Courts directions,Yashpal Malik,president of ABJASS,said,The matter has been passed on to the legal cell of the samiti and we will make a prayer before the High Court on Monday to place our grievances. On the directions to the Centre and state government to clear the tracks,Malik said,Let them do their job,we are ready to face the consequences.

The state government said it would ensure action according to the courts directions. In a statement,Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh attributed the states lack of action so far to the absence of any communication from the Centre regarding talks with leaders of the Jat community about their demand for reservation.