Earlier this year, the Andhra Pradesh government brought an order (GO-1) that aims at regulating the meetings in public places in the state. The opposition raised many objections over it and called it an effort to damage democracy and stop the opposition parties from meeting the masses. Even the communists also condemned it.
Now the Andhra Pradesh government faced a big blow as the High Court suspended the controversial Government Order. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by CPI State Secretary K. Ramakrishna, the Andhra Pradesh High Court suspended the Government Order and made some sensational comments.
The High Court earlier reserved its verdict during the earlier hearing on January 24, 2023. Now the government order was suspended by the Bench of the High Court. While suspending, the bench said that G.O. No.1 violates fundamental rights. This should be seen as a big blow to the Andhra Pradesh government.
The controversial government order was introduced by the state government after stampede situations were reported in two events held by the opposition Telugu Desam Party. Following this, the government came up with the government order.
The controversial G.O., introduced on January 2nd of this year says that meetings in public places should be restricted and permission should be sought from the Police to hold. Only in exceptional situations, permissions can be granted.
However, the opposition parties are not happy with this and said that the go was only brought to restrict them from holding meetings. Earlier in January, the Andhra Pradesh High Court suspended the Government order. The Division Bench of the High Court, comprising Justices Battu Devanand and V.R.K Krupa Sagar suspended the GO.
Not happy with this, the Andhra Pradesh government knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court by filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the suspension of the Government Order by the High Court. In the petition, the government said that it wants to see no lives will be lost with the political events.
The issue was also sent to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and now the bench of the court suspended the controversial government order.
