Anti-Sterlite protest: SC refuses urgent hearing to families of victims

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing into a plea filed by families of those killed in police firing during anti-sterlite protests in Thoothukudi. The apex court didn't specify the date for next hearing and said it would hear the matter after vacation.

The appeal filed by relatives of victims sought a direction to allow a doctor of their choice in the board of doctors to be constituted to conduct the post-mortem of the remaining six deceased. Post-mortem of seven deceased has been already conducted.

So far, mortal remains of the two victims, who died in police firing in Thoothukudi, had been returned to the family members on Friday.

The Madras High Court on May 30 had ordered re-postmortem of seven bodies. The court ordered the re-postmortem after petitioners alleged tampering of evidence. The court had mandated that a doctor from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) or Kerala Insititute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) to be part of the team.

Thirteen people had died in the anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi on May 22.