The call for a Bharat bandh given by some social media groups opposing the caste-based reservations met with partial response in the steel city on Tuesday.
Train services and public transportation remained unaffected. long distance buses from the Sitaramdera bus terminus left for various destinations but with less number of passengers.
Auto-rickshaws and other mode of public transport including city buses and private buses ran on its scheduled routes but their number was less. Schools, colleges, banks and other business establishments remained opened. Pool cars ferrying school children stayed away from roads fearing untoward incident.
Some shops remained closed in Bistupur, Sakchi and other market areas during the morning hours, later they opened. Incidentally, on Tuesday, shops in Sakchi, Bistupur and elsewhere usually remains open in the morning hours. All shops remain closed in the evening.
Meanwhile, in Daltonganj senior criminal lawyer Salabh Singh said that courts withheld pronouncement of judgments here today as accused could not appear in the courts here because of bandh since bus services inter district and interstate were completely off the roads.
The lawyer further said pronouncement of judgment in SC/ST prevention of atrocities act where he is the lawyer could not be done by court as two accused one from Hazaribag and the other from Harihurganj could not appear in the court on account of this bandh.
Singh added court refrains from delivering judgment if the accused has not appeared in the court.Bandh saw poor attendance of clients , witnesses in the courts here resulting in the withholding of evidence recording and cross examination.