Madras High Court today directed Tamil Nadu police to permit a forum to hold a one-day fast to
highlight alleged health risks posed by the nuclear power plant in Kalpakkam, about 70 km from here.
Justice Vinod K Sharma gave the direction disposing of a petition by the People's Movement for Nuclear Safety, working for protection of people residing in the vicinity of the Madras Atomic Power Station at Kalpakkam.
The Judge said the DSP of Mamallapuram sub-division in Kancheepuram District would specify the place where the fast could be held so as to ensure that it did not create a law and order problem.
The petitioner, K Duraisamy, a member of the movement and a ward member of Sathurangapattinam panchayat, had moved the court seeking to quash the December 10 las order of police rejecting permission for holding a fast in the panchayat.
He claimed that due to the continuous functioning of the nuclear power plant, people residing in and around Kalpakkam were inflicted with various diseases, including cancer. In the last 10 years alone, over 240 cancer cases had been detected, he alleged.
The rejection order of the police violated Article 14 (right to equality) and 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression) of the Constitution, the petitioner contended.