TN moves caveat over Sterlite row

THE MOVE COMES TWO DAYS AFTER THE STATE GOVERNMENT ORDERED CLOSURE OF THE STERLITE COPPER FACTORY

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday moved a caveat in the Supreme Court, requesting it not to issue any directive without hearing it on petitions seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into the deaths during the anti-sterlite rally in Tuticorin.

The move comes two days after the state government ordered closure of the Sterlite copper factory.

Two public interest litigations (PILS) were filed in the top court last week.

One filed by advocate GS Mani asked for registration of a criminal case against the district collector of Tuticorin, its superintendent of police (SP) and other senior police officials for the alleged atrocities against protesters during the agitation demanding closure of the factory. According to Mani, the police firing, which led to 13 deaths, was pre-planned and committed by highly influential state police officers with the help of the then district collector and the respondent state.

Those killed in the firing were protesting against the alleged pollution and depletion of water table caused by the plant.

Deeming it a “clear case of murder”, the plea also sought directions to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a case against the SP, the collector and others under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and submit a status report before the apex court.

Another petition filed by social activist P Shiv Kumar, through advocate N Rajaraman, also sought filing of a status report for implementation of the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission for registration of information regarding the deaths in the police firing.

Kumar has also demanded a status report regarding the steps taken to remove the copper sludge deposited by the company that the petitioner alleged had polluted the groundwater across Tuticorin.