Chennai:
A PIL petition has been filed in the Madras High Court challenging the prohibitory orders clamped in about 50 villages in Radhapuram taluk in Tirunelveli District as part of measures taken for commissioning the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
The petition contended that the depriving the the people of their fundamental right of free movement in the name of maintaining public peace and tranquility was a violation of constitutional norms.
Petitioner P Pugalenthi, advocate and Director of Prisoners Rights Forum, claimed that the restraint orders under section 144 CrPC curbing the rights of the people was a virtual arrest of them for no fault of theirs.
He said the protests against commissioning of the nuclear power facility at Kudankulam was a non-violent and peaceful by people to express their legitimate grievances.
Pugalenthi sought an order to declare as null and void the prohibitory orders in force till April 2.