New Delhi, 25 September (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Police to decide by Monday, September 28, on a request to allow bank unions to hold a peaceful protest at an alternative venue instead of Jantar Mantar. A bench headed by Justice Amit Mahajan directed the police to communicate its decision to the counsel for the bank unions by 4 p.m. on Monday.

The Delhi State Unit of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) had sought permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on September 28, 29 and 30. The police informed the court that there were law-and-order concerns regarding holding the demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The court subsequently directed the authorities to consider the unions’ request for an alternative venue.

The unions submitted that the right to peaceful assembly and protest is protected under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution. The petition alleged that delays in granting permission or failure to take a timely decision had prevented them from holding protests earlier scheduled for September 11 and 18.

The key demands of the bank employees include implementation of a five-day working week in the banking sector, withdrawal or suspension of the government’s Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, and modification of the scheme through bilateral discussions with the unions.

The petition stated that the unions had also proposed a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, followed by an indefinite strike from October 26.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar