HC tells chief secy, ADGP to appear before it on Dec 17

REFUSING the state's request to adjourn the contempt petition filed over non-compliance of order directing lighting of Karthigai Deepam on the Deepathoon atop Thiruparankundram hill, the Madurai Bench of the Madras HC on Tuesday directed the TN Chief Secretary and Additional Director General of Police (L&O) to appear before it through videoconference on December 17.

- JEGADEESWARI PANDIAN @Madurai

Justice GR Swaminathan also issued statutory notice to Madurai Collector KJ Praveen Kumar, Madurai Police Commissioner J Loganathan, and Executive Officer of Thiruparankundram Subramaniya Swamy Temple Yagna Narayanan. He further issued statutory notice to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Madurai South) AG Inigo Divyan, who allegedly prevented the petitioners from implementing the order during the second day on December 4 despite a specific direction to Commissioner Loganathan to ensure compliance.

At the request of the petitioner, Rama Ravikumar, the judge also impleaded Union Home Secretary and issued notice to him, adding that based on the response of the chief secretary and ADGP, he may seek inputs from the Union Home Secretary.

Another contempt petition filed by S Paramasivam, one of the four petitioners whose petition was also allowed by the December 1 order, was posted along with Ravikumar's petition.