Approach SC for withdrawal of cases against anti-KNPP agitators: HC

Madras High Court today disposed of a plea seeking a direction to the state government to withdraw criminal cases filed against anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant activists as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

Remedy is open to the petitioner, if any, to approach the Supreme Court praying for the implementation of 'direction 14' in which it is mentioned to take endeavour to withdraw the criminal petitions filed against the agitators in the judgment rendered by the apex court, the First Bench,comprising the Chief Justice R.K.Agrawal and Justice M.Sathyanarayanana, said while disposing of the plea filed by advocate P Pugalenthi.

The apex court while clearing the the deck to make the plant operational had laid down 15 guidelines on commissioning, safety and security and environmental issues concerning the plant.It had said endeavour be made by governments to withdraw all criminal cases filed against the agitators so that peace and normalcy be restored at Kudankulam.

The petitioner had also filed petitions earlier seeking a direction to direct the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary to withdraw all criminal cases in compliance with the apex court order. There was also another plea filed by onr G Sunderrajan to declare the AERB clearance to KNPP as 'null and void.'

The Bench said since the KNPP has already been commissioned and so also its first unit generating electricity,authorities ought to have withdrawn all criminal cases, in terms of the earlier order passed by this Court.

"This Court while disposing off the writ petitions has directed the Home Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, to act in accordance with direction 14 issued by Supreme Court as expeditiously as possible and has not given any opinion as to the claim made in the earlier writ petitions. This Court is of the view that the remedy is open to the petitioner if any is to approach the Supreme Court  praying for the implementation of the direction 14 given in its Judgment", the Bench said, disposing of the plea.