KOCHI: The High Court has criticized the state government and asked what actions were taken by the government to tackle the attacks staged by hartal supporters on the day of hartal called by Sabarimala Karma Samithi. The court observed that Hartal is a serious issue and the fact that 97 hartals happened in the state in 2018 is unbelievable. The court was considering the petitions filed by Biju Ramesh and another person seeking protection for shops on the day of hartal.

Hartal is a serious issue. The state suffers loss worth crores on a day of hartal. Though many directions have been given by the Supreme Court and High Court regarding this, there have been no use of it. Hartal has become a comedy now. It has been disrupting the activities of schools and offices. Everyone has the right to protest, but you cannot force that everyone should participate in it.

The government should initiate several programmes to tackle the attacks on the day of hartal. Such attacks are not constitutional. The court asked about the government stand on this issue. The government informed the court that they are ready to provide protection for the shops on the day of hartal. The court has asked the government to explain about the actions taken on the hartal day. The government is likely to give the explanation before noon.