HC orders notice on gram sabha meet cancellation

 A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha, before whom the plea moved by DMK principal secretary KN Nehru MLA came up in this regard, wondered how maintaining physical distance norms was the reason for cancelling grama sabha meetings. “What about Tasmac liquor shops,” the bench asked before ordering notice.

 Appearing for the petitioner, senior counsel NR Elango submitted that the meetings were prohibited with the oblique motive of stifling dissent as the gram sabhas had decided to adopt resolutions against issues including the contentious farm laws and the draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) notification.

 Pointing out that this interference in the affairs of village panchayats were prima facie illegal and unconstitutional, and beyond the provisions of the Statute and rules, he submitted that some of the

 village panchayat presidents and villagers who conducted the meeting were issued show cause notices by the Inspectors of Panchayats.

 Alleging that the decision taken by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Secretary using the pandemic as an excuse was not the real reason for cancelling the meeting, the petitioner submitted that the act of the government was driven only by a desire to unconstitutionally stifle dissenting voices. It was a violation of the constitutional mandate, including the fundamental rights of the people, the petitioner said.

 The plea also sought for an ad-interim Injunction to the government to conduct grama sabha meetings within three weeks and thereby comply with the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, pending

 disposal of the writ petition.