SC order on Oct 17 on contempt proceedings against Karunanidhi

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court today fixed October 17 to decide whether to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu, state Chief Secretary L K Tripathy and three others in connection with the Sethusamudram project issue.

They had defied the apex court orders dated September 30, 2007, directing the state government and ruling DMK party not to enforce statewide bandh on October 1, 2007 for speedy completion of the Sethusamudram project.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and G S Singhvi had earlier issued show cause notices to six people including state Transport Minister, Transport Secretary and DGP Tamil Nadu seeking an explanation why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them.

The notices were issued on a petition filed by main opposition party in the state AIADMK headed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The apex court was today informed that all the six alleged contemnors have filed their counter affidavit as per the directions of this court.

Earlier, on the last date of hearing, the apex court had threatened to direct the personal presence of Mr Karunanidhi and T R Baalu to explain the delay in filing the counter affidavit despite several opportunities having been granted to them.

Over Rs 2,000 crore project had run into rough weather following decision of the authorities to demolish 35-km long Ram Setu also known as Adam's Bridge, which people believe was constructed by Lord Rama to reach Sri Lanka to free his wife Sita from the captivity of demon king Ravana.

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