Recording the submission of the Tirunelveli district collector that the supply of essential commodities to the Idinthakarai village near Koodankulam, where the anti-nuclear energy protestors had assembled, will be maintained, the Madras high court on Thursday ordered that action should be taken against those indulging in blocking the roads by putting boulders and pillars, so that there shall be smooth flow of essential supplies.
A division bench of Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam posted to March 26, further hearing of the Public Interest Litigations from advocate P Pugalenthi and advocate V. Suresh of PUCL, challenging the action of the authorities, clamping order under section 144 Cr.P.C (prohibitory order) on the entire Radhapuram Taluk in Tirunelveli district and the police blockade of Idinthakarai village.
Petitioners alleged that the people of Radhapuram Taluk have not been able to move freely and essential supplies have been denied, besides transport facilities have been cut off.
Denying the allegations, advocate general A. Navaneethakrishnan submitted that the order under section 144 of Cr.P.C has been passed only as a preventive measure and it was a temporary order for about 15 days and persons living inside the Taluk were not affected.
The order has been passed only to prevent anti-social elements from entering the Taluk for creating or instigating agitations against the functioning of the Nuclear Power plant at Koodankulam, he added and produced a press release issued by the collector.
The bench said as per the press release, thee collector has stated that the supply of milk, vegetables, water through tankers continued to the coastal village and if at all there was any disturbance in maintaining the supply it was only because of the cutting of roads leading to Idinthakarai and creation of road blockades by the protestors.
The collector has further stated that the district administration was ready to help the villagers in maintaining supply of essential commodities and was also ready to ply additional buses for the benefit of students of Idinthakarai appearing for the Plus Two examinations.
“The statements made by the district collector are placed on record. We hope and trust that these statements are effectively implemented, so that the public of the area do not suffer for want of essential commodities.
However, it is made clear that at the same time, action shall also be taken against the persons, who are indulging in blocking the roads by putting boulders and pillars, so that there shall be smooth flow of essential supplies”, the bench added.