Madurai:
Madurai Bench of the Madras High court today advised the Tamil Nadu PWD Senior Engineers Association not to sensationalise the Mullaperiyar Dam issue, and wondered whether the High court could interfere when the Supreme Court was seized of the matter.
Asking the petitioner to approach the Supreme Court directly, a Division Bench of Justice Chitra Venkatraman and Justice Karuppiah said it was the duty of the government to protect the rights of the people.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by the Association Vice-President R V S Vijayakumar seeking a direction to remove illegal encroachments in the Mullaperiyar dam area.
"The case is pending in Supreme court. We cannot presume there is encroachment. We don't see the need to superimpose on the matter. We cannot interfere in the matter pending before the Supreme Court", the court held.
However, the case has been posted for further hearing next week as the petitioner submitted that senior counsel would be appearing.
The Kerala government advocate said the empowered committee appointed by the Supreme Court was looking into all the issues. It was contended that the writ petition was not maintainable as the dam was under Kerala High court jurisdiction, and the apex court was seized of the matter.