HC directs RDO to unseal Producers Council office

Slamming the police for detaining Vishal without any reason and wondering what prevented an elected member from entering his office, Justice Anand Venkatesh directed the RDO to keep the proceedings initiated under Section 145 of the CrPC, which deals with dispute of land likely to cause breach of peace, pending.

The judge was passing orders on a plea moved by TFPC, represented by executive committee member M Anbudurai, seeking to direct the police to provide protection and to initiate action against the miscreants who try to obstruct its functioning.

The plea came after high drama on Thursday when a faction in the council locked down offices in Anna Salai and T Nagar. When TFPC president Vishal tried to break open the lock, police detained him.

Ordering the de-sealing of the premises, Justice Anand Venkatesh also directed the Deputy Registrar of Societies to visit TFPC on Saturday and start taking inventory of all the records available there. Till the petition was disposed of, the records should be kept locked in a room at the council, keeping the key in the official’s control, the judge said.

Also, allowing the office-bearers to take copies of the important records to ensure that the day to day running of the council was not affected, Justice Venkatesh directed the inspector of Pondy Bazaar station to ensure that the office-bearers were not prevented from entering the premises or interfered with their functioning.

So long as the council members did not create any law and order problems, they have the right to access the TFPC office, said the judge, directing the police to take immediate action against those who created trouble.

The court made clear that the dispute would be settled by an appropriate court and the order would have no bearing on it, and posted the petition for further hearing after four weeks.