PIL seeking protection for Tamils in K'taka posted to Feb 9

Chennai, Feb 7 (UNI) Madras High Court today posted to February 9 hearing on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the Centre to protect the life and property of Tamils in Karnataka by deploying paramilitary forces and CPRF to prevent violence in the wake of the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

When the PIL filed by social worker Ilankeeran, which also sought to restict the Karnataka Chief Secretary from declaring a bandh over the issue, came up for hearing, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Mr Justice J Chandru directed Assistant Solicitor General P Wilson to take notice and get instructions from the Centre.

The PIL feared violence against Tamils in Karnataka in view of attacks against Tamils in that state after the interim award of the Cauvery Tribunal in 1991, which led to the death of 191 persons besides largescale damage to property. At that time, the PIL said, the Karnataka Government had made the situation worse by its actions and statements.

UNI