Comply with order on security for PMK leaders: HC

Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Government to comply with its direction to provide round-the-clock armed police protection for PMK leaders S Ramadoss and his son along with former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss.
A Division Bench comprising Justices N Paul Vasanthakumar and R Mahadevan adjourned the matter to November 26 after directing Special government pleader (SGP) I S Inbadurai to comply with its earlier order to provide security.
The plea had earlier been heard by Single Judge K K Sasidharan, who referred the matter to then Acting Chief Justice R K Agrawal to place it before a Division Bench to decide on the power of Security Review Committee, which decides on providing security to those who require it.

The bench had on November 5 ordered that at least two armed police personnel be provided as security to both leaders round the clock.
When the matter came up today, PMK's counsel submitted only one police personnel at a time was provided to Ramadoss in Villupuram and no security to Anbumani here.
To a query, the SGP said he would get instructions and see the order is complied with, to which he was told to provide details of names of policemen on security at both places.

The SGP later submitted that as per the order two police personnel have been provided, one at the house and another in the outhouse.

PMK counsel submitted that the court's order had not been complied with and only one constable is being provided at a time.
"What is the meaning of 24 hours.... That is round the clock. Each two police personnel with arms round the clock. First comply with our order," the judge told the SGP and directed him to get instructions from the authority concerned and file a counter on November 26.
On November 12, the Tamil Nadu government had informed the court that Ramadoss and Anbumani should not be given security cover as they do not fall under any category by which state provides protection.

In an affidavit filed before a division bench, government had submitted that neither of them fall in any of the categories for persons for whom security has to be provided.
The affidavit said as a matter of policy, security is given to those occupying constitutional or other state related officers and both PMK leaders do not hold any such post.