The Madras High Court on Thursday expressed the hope that the statement of the Tirunelveli District Collector would be implemented effectively so that the residents of Radhapuram Taluk do not suffer for want of essential commodities/supplies.
At the same time, it made it clear that action should be taken against those blocking roads by putting boulders, to ensure the smooth flow of supplies.
The First Bench of Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam passed the interim order on public interest litigation petitions challenging an order passed under Section 144 Cr.P.C in the taluk.
The petitioners' main grievance was that people were not able to move freely. Essential supplies such as water, milk and electricity were being denied.
Transport facilities had been cut off.
They prayed the court for immediate directions to ensure the restoration of essential supplies.
Students could not attend Plus Two examinations since public transport had been affected. They prayed the court to suspend the prohibitory order.
The Advocate-General said the order was passed as a preventive measure for 15 days to prevent anti-social elements from entering the taluk for agitating against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project.
He referred to the Collector's release wherein he had denied reports that essential commodities supply to Idinthakarai, where the anti-nuclear energy protesters have assembled, had been cut off.
He had stated that the district administration was ready to help the villagers in maintaining the supply of essential commodities and was also ready to ply additional buses for the benefit of the students of Idinthakarai.
The Bench placed on record the Collector's statement and hoped it would be implemented effectively.
In view of the observations made in its order, the prayer of suspension of the prohibitory order did not arise, it said.
