Government told to reply on restricting of Stalin’s movement

Justice M Duraiswamy, before whom the plea came up on Tuesday, adjourned it to August 4 after directing the state to file a counter affidavit. 

The DMK’s legal wing secretary R Girirajan, who moved the plea, contended that since the state government had failed to undertake any desilting of water bodies to ensure rainwater harvesting during the monsoon, DMK cadre on heeding to Stalin’s request have started desilting the ponds and lakes in many places across the state. 

Following this, Stalin was touring the state to inspect the desilted ponds and tanks and to appreciate the efforts of party cadre. On July 27, when Stalin was proceeding to inspect the Kacharayanpalayam tank near Konganapuram, desilted by the DMK cadre, he was detained. Later, an order was passed by the ACP, Salem, denying permission for a human chain protest demanding withdrawal of NEET, which was used as a justification for detaining him, the plea stated.