Bandh: SC dismisses claim for Rs 1 lakh relief from TN govt

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a petition filed by a schoolboy seeking compensation of Rs one lakh from Tamil Nadu government for not being able to reach his school in time to appear in examination due to state-wide bandh called by the DMK on October 1 this year.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and J M Panchal told the petitioner P Krishna Kumar that providing transport by the state was not a fundamental right of the petitioner and therefore writ petition under the Article 32 is not maintainable.

The state-wide bandh was sponsored by the ruling party DMK, headed by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and its allies, demanding speedy completion of the Sethusamudram Project.

The petitioner contended that he had to walk on foot to cover a distance of 20 km on that day to reach his school as no bus was available due to the state-sponsored bandh and therefore could not appear in his examination.

The petitioner's counsel Satish Gella contended that the bandh was enforced in violation of the Supreme Court's directions, dated September 30 not to call the bandh.

The apex court, however, did not agree with the contentions of the petitioner and dismissed his petition.

The Supreme Court had directed the authorities not to damage the Ram Sethu while carring out the dredging activities for the construction of the Sethusamudram Project.

UNI