Ahead of proposed nationwide bandh on September 6, called by some organisations protesting against the SC/ST Amendment Bill passed in Parliament last month, Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in five districts of Madhya Pradesh.
About:
Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) prohibits any assembly of five or more people in an area where it has been imposed.
According to the law, every member of such "unlawful assembly" can be booked for "engaging in rioting". Moreover, obstructing police from breaking up an unlawful assembly is a punishable offence as well.
The maximum punishment for such act is three years.
Background:
Section 144 was used for the first time in 1861 by the British Raj, and thereafter became an important tool to stop all nationalist protests during the Freedom Struggle.
However, the use of the section in Independent India remains controversial as very little has changed.
Section 144 vs Curfew:
Section 144 is generally prohibitory in nature. It restricts from public gathering, but doesn't bar it all together.
A curfew, on the other hand, orders people to stay indoors for a specific period of time. So, the authorities can impose curfew for certain period of time (However, the authorities can also extend the curfew if the need be).
One also needs a prior approval from the local police for moving out during curfew.
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