HC refuses to order stay on TN bandh

Chennai, Mar 30 (UNI) Madras High Court today declined to stay tomorrow's bandh called by the ruling DMK and its allies to protest the Supreme Court Order staying 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs in higher educational institutions.

After DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi declared the bandh last night, two public interest litigation (PIL) petitions were filed this morning seeking to declare the 12-hour bandh illegal. But a Division Bench, refused to grant the interim prayer.

Social Activists Traffic Ramasamy and M S Sivakumar who filed the PILs contended the bandh amounted to contempt of court as the matter regarding 27 per cent reservation for OBCs was still pending before the Supeme Court. They sought a direction to the authorities concerned to cancel the proposed bandh call.

Turning down the plea, the Bench comprising Mr Justice S J Mukhobadya and Mr Justice V Dhanapalan, granted two weeks time to the DMK Government to file its reply.

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