SC warns Tamil Nadu government of dismissal

New Delhi, Oct 1: An enraged Supreme Court today threatened the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu with dismissal holding that the constitutional machinery in the state has completely broken down as Chief Minister M Karunanidhi launched a statewide fast, demanding speedy implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP).

A bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and B Sathasivam issued the warning after it took serious note of the allegations made by AIADMK counsel Gurukrisna Kumar that a bandh was being enforced by DMK government in Tamil Nadu in violation of the directions of this court issued on Sunday.

A bandh-like situation prevailed in the state, notwithstanding the Supreme Court staying the bandh, called by the ruling DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance. Normal life was disrupted in the state. State Transport Corporation buses and large number of autorickshaws were off the road and shops and commercial establishments downed shutters, crippling normal life. Most of the educational institutions and private companies remained closed.

The bench made it clear that it will not hesitate in directing the state chief minister and the chief secretary to be personally present in the court if the petitioner convinces the court that the orders of this court have been delibrately flouted by the state government.

The apex court was so annoyed that it told the Centre " do not shy away from imposing the President's Rule in the state since there is total breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state." When counsel for DMK government tried to impress upon the court that only few unions were trying to enforce the state wide bandh, the court retorted "do not try to blame the trade unions as they are only carrying out your instructions." When AIADMK counsel informed the court that M Karunanidhi was sitting on a fast the court reacted by saying "let him go on fast we are not concerned with it " The Supreme Court in a special sitting yesterday had directed the state government not to enforce state wide bandh on October 1 demanding speedy completion of SSCP .

The court had observed " there is the problem in the country . We have to deal with everything with an iron hand otherwise things do not work. Whether it is legislature , executive or judiciary , every organ of the state has to be dealt with an iron hand." The court had also noted that the rights of citizens were superior to the rights of individual political parties , that such activities by political parties cannot be tolerated and public life cannot be disrupted through such illegal bandhs , that too sponsored by the ruling party which is duty bound to maintain law and order and also to protect the lives and property of the people of the state .

AIADMK in its petition challenging Madras High court order dated September 28 refusing to ban the DMK sponsored bandh, has contended that the proposed bandh was violative of the apex court's directions directing not to damage Ram Sethu while continuing dredging activities.

UNI