The Bombay high court last week fined the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party Rs 20 lakh each for calling and enforcing a bandh on July 30 last year to protest against a bomb blast in Ghatkopar, suburban Mumbai, that claimed four lives.

Bandhs, when normal work in an entire city, state or, occasionally, the country is disrupted, have been used by political parties to showcase their strength.

Those who support bandhs say it is an important tool to express dissent, a means to register a protest. But critics say it hurts the people, their livelihood, and the economy and is almost always enforced by using threats of violence. [In 1997, the Kerala high court had declared bandhs as illegal]

What do you think of the Bombay high court order? Share your thoughts.