The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered round-the-clock armed police protection for the PMK leader, S.Ramadoss and his son and former Union Minister, Anbumani Ramadosss, from 6 p.m, pending further orders.
A Division Bench comprising Justices N.Paul Vasanthakumar and R.Mahadevan passed the interim order on a writ petition by the PMK president, G.K.Mani, who challenged a communication of the State Home Secretary that the Security Review Committee had concluded on September 19 that it was not essential to provide security to the two leaders.
Earlier, in an interim order on the petition on October 11, Justice K.K.Sasidharan had said it was the duty of the Superintendent of Police concerned to assess the situation and provide adequate protection to the two leaders. The order was passed after counsel said the leaders would be attending several party functions in view of the coming general elections. The Judge had said since the government had agreed to provide security arrangements at the local level, necessarily sufficient police personnel should be provided at the venue of the meetings to be attended by Dr.Ramadoss and Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss. He said the petitioner could produce the details of the tour programme to the Superintendent of Police of the district concerned. On receipt of the programme, the SPs should provide adequate protection.
Later, the Judge ordered that the writ petition be posted before a Division Bench.
The Special Government Pleader, I.S.Inbadurai, said the government was ready to provide adequate protection whenever the two leaders went on tour, after assessment by the local police.
He said he would file a counter.
In the order, the Bench said it was of the view that the two persons were entitled to get police protection at least by two personnel with arms round-the-clock from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, pending further orders.
It later adjourned the matter by a week for filing of counter.
