Table status of Nadukuppam fish market, govt told

The first Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar before whom the PIL filed by advocate P Pugalenthi, came up for hearing on Tuesday, on posting the case to February 9, said “We would like to have a status report from the Government before considering issue of notice in the matter.” 

Pugalenthi had submitted that the student agitation from January 17 to January 23, seeking to withdraw the ban on jallikattu was so peaceful that Tamils living in various parts of the world extended their wholehearted support to the cause. 

But, though the State had come up with an ordinance of January 21, paving way for holding jallikattu, its failure to publicise the same and take the agitating students into confidence had resulted in them continuing with their protests. But unmindful of that, on January 23, the police in a bid to thwart the week-long peaceful protests used over 1,000 lathi wielding personnel to attack the protesters and disperse them. 

On seeing the attack, Nadukuppam residents intervened and saved many students from police brutality resulting in them being attacked and the fish market being set ablaze. He also noted that the brutal attack on them and the fish market being destroyed has affected the livelihood of over 1,000 families. The plea also sought for a direction to the Government to hold medical camps in the area since even after many days of the riot, the injured persons were afraid of leaving their home for medical treatment for fear of attack by the police.