.

The AG also submitted that though it might not be possible to have vigilance all over the State given the current strength of the police, the police would spare no effort.

The court recorded the submissions made by the AG. The court had yesterday directed the AG to inform the court on the steps being contemplated by the government to mitigate the hardship caused to people on the day of the hartal. The oral direction was given by Justice C S Rajan on a petition by the Institute of Social Welfare, Kochi, seeking sufficient police protection to all shops and establishments, workers and others who wanted to work on the day of the hartal.

A conference of the State's top police officers beingconvened at Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow, will chalk out a scheme for implementing the court judgement on bandhs and hartals and the court's directions issued on December 10, 1998, the AG submitted.

The State chief secretary will also attend tomorrow's conference being convened by the director genaral of police.

The judge held that the court had, on December 10 last year, directed the chief secretary and DGP to give strict insructions to district collectors and the police to ensure that the earlier judgement of a full bench on bandhs was strictly enforced. However, despite clear directions, the court received several letters from people alleging assault.

With regard to certain incidents which took place on December 11 last when the LDF had called for a hartal, the court was told that some cases were being investigated and in some cases chargesheets had been prepared.

The court directed the chief secretary and the DGP to file a statement on February 11 with regard to the steps taken bythem to meet the strike.

The DGP has been directed to file a statement by February 11 giving details of the cases registered with regard to incidents which took place on December 11 last year.