Hearing the PIL that stated the bandh has severely affected the lives of locals in the district, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said though it did not want to interfere into the democratic rights of the locals, the bandh cannot be forcefully imposed on the general public. Stating that the state government failed to maintain normalcy in the hills, the high court directed the local administration to take necessary action against the bandh enforcers and asked the SP of Darjeeling to submit a compliance report next Wednesday when the court will hear the case again.

The bench directed the government to provide emergency services like water supply, telecommunications, transport and milk supply. According to the order, the administration will have to take necessary steps to keep the hospitals, school, colleges and government establishments open, for which it can deploy security forces, if needed.

Meanwhile, the bandh entered the fifth day on Wednesday.