HC seeks details of measures taken to wean Kannagi Nagar residents off crime

The division bench Justice N Kirubakaran and VM Velumani then impleaded the State police chief, and secretaries of Social Welfare and Education departments, and put forth a slew of questions relating to the remedial measures taken to improve the standard of life in these areas.

Finding that majority of the residents living in the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board’s tenements in these areas are those who had been relocated about 20-22 km away from the city, the bench noted: “It seems they have been deprived of their jobs and livelihood, and are unable to lead a normal life. Probably, that is the reason why these people have been lured into a life of crime by anti-social elements. It appears many people living in these areas have taken to crime as a way of life, including drug peddling, as evident from the number of cases coming up before this court.”

The bench also considered the status report that was sought by another division bench.

To wean them away from the life of crime, to create job opportunities and to enable their children to study, the bench suo motu impleaded the DGP, and secretaries of Social Welfare and School Education department as respondents.

The bench sought answers for 12 queries, including the cases registered and the number of government schools in these areas, and clarified that the order should not be misunderstood as if all the residents of that area are involved in criminal activities.

“As it is evident from the cases coming up before this court that many of the detenus hail from these areas, especially Kannagi Nagar, it has become necessary for this court to raise the queries,” the bench added while posting the case for after two weeks for filing response.