AIADMK petition against Azhagiri dismissed

Chennai, Apr 29 (UNI) Madras High Court today dismissed a public interest litigation filed by the All India Anna DMK (AIADMK), seeking a direction to constitute a high-level body to look after the administration of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, alleging that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's Madurai-based son M K Azhagiri was acting as an extra-constitutional authority.

A Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Mr Justice M Venugopal, dismissed the petition, filed by former AIADMK Minister D Jayakumar, stating that the allegations were vague and there was no source of information or specific instance to point an accusing finger at Mr Azhagiri.

The petition was filed in political interest by a party against another, the Bench said, adding that in the absence of specific allegations, the court had no option but to dismiss the petition.

Mr Jayakumar, in the petition, submitted that Mr Azhagiri was acting as an extra-constitutional authority in the southern districts. Police and civil servants were being appointed in the southern districts only at the orders of Mr Azhagiri and they were at his command, he added.

The AIADMK leader, citing the attack on the office of 'Dinakaran' Tamil daily in June last, in which three staff members were burnt to death, submitted that the attack was carried out by supporters of Mr Azhagiri for carrying a report, showing him in bad light.

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