NEW DELHI: The AAP government has banned dharnas and protests outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ’s residence for the whole of August.Orders banning demonstrations, speeches, slogan-shouting etc citing Independence Day and festivities under impose Section 144 of the criminal code, which prevents assembly of more than four people, were imposed by subdivisional magistrate for Civil Lines BK Jha on Tuesday.In the recent past, Kejriwal has criticised Opposition parties’ protests, calling the BJP a 'dharna party,' even as the latter has mounted multiple protests outside his residence at 6 Flagstaff Road in the upscale Civil Lines locality. Section 144 is usually imposed when local administrations face chaotic social situations that escalate into law and order problems.Recently it was applied in Gurgaon during floods, in parts of Kashmir where civilian protests went out of control and in parts of Maharashtra were water riots were anticipated in the drought-affected Latur district. However, processions by "political parties and pressure groups" during festive season was ground enough for the AAP government to impose Section 144.In his two-page order, Jha wrote, "the coming month of August has many festivals such as Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, Parsi New Year and Janmashtami. People in general used to visit the chief minister and officer's residence during festive seasons. Therefore, it is apprehended that any demonstration, protests or dharna will create public nuisance and serious law and order problems."He also saw a possibility to 'cause obstruction to the vehicular traffic movement, danger to human lives and public property' by the protests. When SDM Jha was asked if the situation in Civil Lines warranted imposition of a month-long Section 144, he told ET: "This is a preventive measure for the festive season.It has no connection with protests by the opposition parties and other groups." He denied there was any direction from the government to issue the order. Kejriwal is away in Himachal Pradesh on Vipasana treatment and is expected to return on August 12.