CHENNAI: A public interest writ petition challenging clamping of Section 144 of the CrPC in Radhapuram taluk of Tirunelveli district was filed in the Madras High Court on Wednesdy.The prohibitory order, valid till April 2, was issued by the Tirunelveli District Collector in view of the ongoing agitations by the members of anti-Koodankulam movement and the re-opening of the plant on March 19.In his petition, advocate P Pugalenthi submitted that the prohibitory order had been issued with a view to prevent the villagers of the entire taluk from moving one place to another. Its residents had been virtually under house arrest since March 20. Under the guise of exercising his powers, the Collector, for maintaining public peace had issued the order depriving people of basic rights. No material was disclosed for the issuance of the order.“The agitators were carrying on protests for months, peacefully. Till the conclusion of Sankarankoil by-poll on March 18, the State remained satisfied that the taluk was a peaceful place. The moment the election was over, it came to a conclusion that there was no peace and hence, the people were to be imprisoned. All of a sudden, the taluk had become a place of riots and chaos in the opinion of the law enforcing authorities,” the petitioner contended.
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