Madras HC issues notice in PIL for SIT probe into Thoothukudi police firing

The Madras High Court has issued notice in a PIL praying for the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the police atrocities that led to 13 deaths in last month’s protest against Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper Plant in Thoothukudi..The petition filed by S Rajinikanth, president of the Makkal Arasu Katchi, came up before the Bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice PT Asha..The petitioner has raised apprehensions that the investigation into the incident would not be a fair one, given that police officials involved in the firing were also involved in its conduct..It is pointed out that the government is yet to disclose details as to which officials ordered the shooting. Further, no details are forthcoming as to what precautionary measures were taken before resorting to shooting civilians..The petitioner has also raised the suspicion that the actual number of persons deceased and missing following the shooting is higher than the number disclosed..It is submitted that all of these facts point towards something fishy, which the government is trying to conceal by appointing a name-sake committee..As the petitioner’s counsel was arguing for a court-ordered investigation into the incident, the Chief Justice orally observed that perhaps the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the appropriate authority that should be approached..In fact, another Division Bench of Justices P Velmurugan and T Ravindran has already issued notice in another PIL praying for a CBI probe. A similar plea is also pending before the Supreme Court, apart from a plea for a probe by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) before the Delhi High Court..In the instant petition, the Madras High Court has directed the state to file its counter by next week. Rejoinder thereto is to be within a week thereafter. The matter will be taken up for hearing next month..The various prayers made in the petition include:.That the Court direct the government to divulge details as to the number of persons deceased and missing, following the Thoothukudi shootingThat the government be directed to reveal all government orders passed in connection with the Thoothukudi protestThat the government be directed to take action against the police who murdered protestors last month in Thoothukudi by registering criminal cases against them and suspending themThat the Court direct the payment of Rs 1 crore as compensation to the family of persons who died following the Thoothukudi protestThat the Court direct the constitution of a Special Investigation Team, consisting foreign experts to investigate into the “illegal activities and blatant violations unleashed by the police” in last month’s Thoothukudi protest.