SC reserves verdict on M. Karunanidhi, Baalu for contempt of court

The Supreme Court reserved its verdict on the issue whether Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu and four others are liable to be prosecuted for contempt of the Court for alleged violation of the apex court order, dated September 30, 2008, directing the DMK and its allies not to enforce state-wide bandh on October 1. The ruling DMK and its allies had given a call for the state-wide bandh in support of their demand for the speedy completion of the Setusamudram Project. The project had hit a road block because of the proposed demolition of the Ram Setu, which Hindus believe was constructed by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka to free his wife Sita from the captivity of demon king Ravana. The apex court had issued show cause notices to Mr Karunanidhi, Mr Baalu, State Chief Secretary L K Tripathi, State DGP and the State Transport Minister and the State Transport Secretary for not implementing the directions of the apex court, issued during a special sitting on a Sunday. A bench comprising Justices B N Aggarwal and G S Singhvi reserved the verdict on the contempt of court petition, filed by AIADMK chief and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who has alleged that the entire state was paralysed on October 1 despite the apex court directions to the contrary. The petitioner had also contended that Mr Tripathi had told media on October 1 that only about 50 transport buses plied in the state when it had a fleet of about 30,000 buses. According to the petitioner, no action was taken against the leaders, who enforce the bandh causing tremendous hardship and harassment to the people of the state. Loss of several crores of rupees was caused to the state exchequer and the government connived with the organisers of the bandh and no action was taken against a majority of the state government employees, who abstained from work on that day. Mr Baalu had also made derogatory remarks against Justice Aggarwal for passing the orders on Sunday. UNI

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