High Court direct’s to maintain law & order in the village fair of Shillai
Fair Committee of the Shillai subdivision of a village has to knock on the door of the Himachal Pradesh High Court to maintain law and order during an upcoming event.
The High Court of Himachal Pradesh, today ordered that no person(s) or authority shall interfere with the ongoing ‘Shaheed Kalyan Singh Memorial Khel Avam Saanskritik Mela’ being organized at Halhan, Tehsil Shillai,
District Sirmaur, by the fair committee.
A Division Bench, comprising the Acting Chief Justice, Tarlok Singh Chauhan, and Justice Virender Singh, passed this order, on a petition filed by one Mr. Kundan Singh of the above-mentioned village.
The petitioner, who is also the President of the fair committee, has submitted that the event commenced on 24.05.2023 and thousands of people and various teams have gathered to participate in this fair.
He has further submitted that the fair is being organized for the last 23 years, in memory of Shaheed Kalyan Singh, who got martyrdom in the Kargil war.
The petitioner has alleged that some mischievous persons have warned that they will not allow the holding of this fair. Earlier these miscreants have damaged Govt. JCB to stop leveling of ground.
The petitioner has alleged that although sufficient police force has been deployed, police are not removing these miscreants who have gathered in the ground and sitting there with lethal weapons like Lathi, Danda, and other iron weapons. These mischievous persons are not allowing the fair committee to organize this fair smoothly.
The petitioner has prayed to direct D.C Sirmaur, S.P. Sirmaur, and SDM Shillai, to remove these miscreants from the ground and take action against them in accordance with the law.
During the course of the hearing, the Court was informed that the Principal Secretary (Home) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh, has already been apprised of the holding of the Mela and, in fact.
Further directions have already been issued by the Principal Secretary (Home), to the Government of Himachal Pradesh, to the Director General of Police to look into the matter and take further necessary action vide Office Order dated 23.5.2023.
In the given facts and circumstances, the Court observed that no person(s) can interfere with the event(s) being held in the Mela, except if they infringe upon the rights of the person(s) or his/their property.
The Court has made it absolutely clear that no person(s) or authority shall interfere with these sports activities. The Court has directed that the Mela Committee would ensure that health, hygiene, and cleanliness are maintained in the area, where the Mela is being organized, and after the event, there is no litter or garbage at the site and the same is disposed of as per law.
The Court has directed the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Shillai, to file Status Report in this regard, on 29.05.2023. A copy of the Court order has been ordered to be conveyed to SDM, Shillai, over his mobile phone.
