File reply on allowing Nalini, Murugan to call kin over WhatsApp: HC to govt

When the plea came up for hearing before them on Tuesday, a division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice PT Asha took strong exception to the government pleader seeking a week’s time to file a reply despite notice being issued to the government on May 15.

The bench rejected the plea for more time and directed the government pleader to file the reply on Wednesday for passing final orders on the claim. Nalini’s mother had moved the plea seeking to permit her daughter and husband to talk with his mother and sister through WhatsApp for 10 minutes daily. She submitted that when Murugan’s father in Sri Lanka had died on April 27, the State government refused to accede to his request to watch the last rites over WhatsApp video call. Following this, Nalini contacted and sought her help to obtain permission from the government. But a plea in this regard on May 4 had failed to evoke any response so far.

She sought the court to enable the couple speak to Murugan’s sister Raji in London and mother Somani Ammal in Sri Lanka using WhatsApp video call.