Jaipur: Coming down heavily on its "lavish" fourth anniversary celebrations, the Rajasthan High Court today issued a show-cause notice to the state government asking it to ponder if such festivities costing heavily on the exchequer and causing great inconvenience to people were justified.

"It appeared that the entire city came to a standstill and people were held at ransom of such glorifications," the court said and issued the show-cause notices to the Chief Secretary.

The court also issued separate notices to Director General of Police, Jaipur District Collector, municipal commissioner and the commissioner of the development authority.

It said all the political parties and the organisers have to rethink whether such "glorification celebrations" are justified at the cost of public. Taking cognizance of a letter written to Justice Ashok Parihar of the High Court by a resident of Hanumannagar in the city, it also posed five questions on the issue of holding political rallies in the state causing and asked state government to reply.

The court said it has treated the letter as a public interest litigation and has referred the matter for consideration of a Division Bench. The Vasundhara Raje Governmnt had organised the fourth year anniversary celebration on December eight. Elaborate arrangement had been made for the festivities amid allegations that huge public money was blown on the event.

Source : PTI