Calling for `hartals' for any reason has become a normal practice in the State. Already the Supreme Court as well as High Court have laid down the law on this point. 

`Forced hartal' is illegal. But, if the public at large keep away from carrying on their normal day to day activities by attending their School, College, Office, business premises, trading activities etc., there is no reason why KSRTC should operate all their schedules when commuters are very less. 

The question is whether the public are willing to come forward to claim compensation for the loss suffered by them. Unless such action is initiated before a court of law and the damages is assessed and decreed, it may not be possible for any Court to direct payment of compensation to an aggrieved person. 

It might also be true that, taking into account the might of the organisation that calls for such hartals, the public at large may not be in a position to initiate appropriate action against the organisation calling and holding such `hartals'. 

It is therefore necessary that the Government should step in and provide a simple and easy method to any person including statutory Corporations like KSRTC or a private individual to claim compensation for any loss they may suffer on account of such `forced hartals'. 

Appropriate legislation should be enacted granting suo motu powers to a competent authority to call for claims, assessment of compensation, recovery etc. Unless such measures are taken, the menace of `forced hartals' cannot be curbed.