more-inThe Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had foreseen the violent scenes witnessed during Tuesday’s anti-Sterlite protest in Thoothukudi district. Disposing of a writ petition filed by Vedanta, the holding company of Sterlite, seeking protection for the plant, the court had, last Friday, said: “The wordings in the pamphlets (calling for the protest on Tuesday) indicate that the protesters do not have any intention of conducting a peaceful protest.”Justice M.S. The company had insisted on government officials issuing a prohibitory order by invoking their power under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. During the course of the hearing of the case, a government counsel informed the court that none had approached the police so far, seeking permission for any kind of protest on May 22. would be “highly recommended” in the public interest.

Source: The Hindu May 22, 2018 19:41 UTC