GAIL pipeline case: Contempt petition moved against TN Govt

A contempt petition has been filed by a farmers' association against Tamil Nadu Government before Madras High Court for not implementing its order to convene a meeting to resolve the dispute over laying of pipelines by Gas Authority of India Limited in seven districts of the state.
Kandasamy, Secretary of Farmers Sangam, in his petition submitted that the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary had not arranged for a meeting between the farmers with respective district collectors and GAIL officials, as directed by the Madras High Court in its order on October 4 last.
Members of the petitioner association had prevented GAIL from laying the Kochi-Kuttanad-Mangalore-Bangalore Gas Pipeline through their farm lands on the ground it would affect farming operations. Following this GAIL moved the high court for police protection, which was rejected.

However, the court had directed the state government to convene a meeting of district collectors, GAIL officials and land owners to arrive at a "workable solution" and facilitate laying of pipelines, which would pass through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Salem and Krishnagiri districts.
Stating that the meeting had not been arranged so far, the petitioner filed the present contempt petition. When the matter came up for hearing today, Advocate General sought three weeks time to get instructions.
First Bench, comprising, Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, posted the matter after three weeks and said, "till then there will be an order of status quo as of today.