HC notice to Kerala Electricity Minister

Kochi, May 8 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today issued notice to State Power Minister A K Balan and Legislator M Chandran on a petition, seeking to set aside the order of the Additional Sessions Court, Palakkad, staying an arrest warrant issued by the judicial magistrate court in Ottapalam against the two.

The petitioner, P Sandeep of Kakkanad here, also sought a direction to the District and Sessions Court, Palakkad, to hear the criminal appeal filed by the Minister and the MLA and pass judgment expeditiously.

The Ottapalam judicial magistrate court had sentenced Mr Balan and seven others to imprisonment for two years on the charge of obstructing train services during a 'rail roko', organised by the LDF in December 2000 to protest against some of the Centre's policy decisions.

UNI