Poovulagin Nanbargal, an anti-nuclear forum, has urged the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw criminal cases slapped against members of People’s Movement against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) and its supporters for their involvement in the agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project.
“Pendency of the criminal cases has paved way for hardship to the people. Some of them have been denied issuance of passport/renewal of passport. Livelihood of many has been affected because of the pendency of the criminal cases against them,” G. Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal said in his letter to the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary.
He said more than 350 cases had been filed against several anti-nuclear activists under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, particularly in Kudankulam, Radhapuram, and Pazhavur police limits. Even children and people with disabilities were booked.
Citing orders of the Supreme Court in this regard and the statement made by Tamil Nadu government for the withdrawal of 213 cases against members of PMANE and its supporters, he said, in another case in the Madras High Court, it was submitted that 32 cases were under investigation.
Referring to an observation of the Supreme Court in which it stated authorities, while dealing with the offences under Section 124 A of the IPC, should be guided by the principles laid down by the Constitution Bench in Kedar Nath Singh vs. State of Bihar case.
