Lucknow, Feb. 4 -- : Disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on caste-based political rallies, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed strict and effective implementation of the Uttar Pradesh government order prohibiting such gatherings.

The division bench observed that the state government has already imposed a complete ban on caste-based political rallies to maintain public order. The judgment, delivered on January 19 and uploaded on Tuesday, came on a PIL filed in 2013 by local lawyer M L Yadav. The petitioner had sought a ban on all caste-based political rallies and directions to the Election Commission of India to cancel the registration of political parties organising such events.

The court...