HC orders notices to TN officials

Madurai, May 16 (UNI) The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today ordered notices to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and five others on a petition, seeking constitution of a committee to monitor the deteriorating law and order situation in the southern districts of the state, citing the 'Dinakaran' attack which left three dead.

When the petition, filed by former AIADMK Minister D Jayakumar, came up for hearing, a bench, comprising Justices Prafulla Kumar Misra and K Veeraraghavan, said they were neither inclined to take up the case for hearing now nor grant any interim injunction and ordered notices to the Chief Secretary, DGP, Madurai DIG, Tirunelveli DIG, Madurai Police Commissioner and Madurai Superintendent of Police.

The bench said the petitioner could approach the Supreme Court if they were dissatisfied with the order.

Mr Jayakumar contended that the constitution of the committee was essential as not even a single genuine complaint was being registered in police stations in the southern districts.

Citing an example, he claimed that the police, while not accepting a complaint from the 'Dinakaran' management, registered a case its own allegedly at the behest of chief minister M Karunanidhi's son M K Azhagiri.

Appearing on behalf of the government, Additional Advocate General Raman and Mr Ramasamy questioned the need for filing the petition during court vacation and said there was no connection between the petitioner and the complainants (in the said incident) and wondered how the petitioner could implead himself in the case.

However, the bench said it was not necessary that only the affected party should register a complaint.

The government counsels said several people had been arrested in connection with the case, while some had surrendered. Action was being taken in the case and hence the petition should not be admitted.

UNI