3 petitions to stage demos against U.S. On Jan 26 dismissed

The Madras High Court today dismissed three petitions seeking a direction to police to permit staging protests in the state on January 26 against U.S.A for 'rejecting' India's request since 1984 to extradite former Union Carbide CEO late Warren Anderson, among other things.
The petitioners, including a Coimbatore-based labour union which wanted to stage demonstrations in Chennai, Coimbatore and Krishnagiri, also planned protests that day against multinational companies 'exploiting' local labour in Special Economic Zones.
They alleged that the U.S. Had continuously rejected India's request to extradite Warren Anderson, prime accused in the Bhopal gas tragedy since 1984. He died in U.S.A on September 29, 2014.

They contended that at least 25,000 people were killed over time and more than 1.5 lakh battled TB, cancer and other crippling illnesses due to the gas leak tragedy.
The petitioners submitted that labour and rights outfits usually stage protests and dharnas whenever a U.S. President visits the country. This time too they had sought police permission to hold such events but were denied it.
Dismissing the petitions, Justice T S Sivagnanam said schools and government officials would be busy in organizing various functions and in the Republic Day celebrations on that day, it would be diffcult for police to provide adequate security for such protests.

"Organizers can find another date and venue if they want. However, it is up to the jurisdictional police to concern to consider such requests in accordance with law,"the judge said.