The Madras High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a writ petition filed by P. Ayyakannu, leader of a farmers’ body, seeking a direction to the Chennai city police to grant him permission to sit on a fast on the Marina beach here, demanding constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.
Justice T. Raja deferred his judgment after hearing arguments advanced by petitioner’s counsel S. Ayyadurai, who contended that the protest would attract attention only if it was held on the Marina beach, and Additional Advocate General P.H. Arvindh Pandian, who contended that no such protest could be allowed on the Marina.
Pointing out that Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had undertaken a one-day token fast on the same issue near the government guesthouse at Chepauk, the AAG said that permission could be granted to the petitioner also at Chepauk, Valluvar Kottam or other permitted places.
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In the meantime, T. Velmurugan of the Tamizhaga Vaazhvurimai Katchi also filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking a direction to the Chennai city police to grant him permission for a protest near the labourers statue on the Marina beach to impress upon the need for constituting the CMB at the earliest.