HC quashes case against Cyclone Gaja-hit protestors; says was an act in desperation

The Madras High Court has quashed the FIRs against over 90 people who protested against "tardy relief" in the aftermath of Gaja cyclone last year, saying it was an act in desperation by those deprived of basic necessities and cannot be treated as a routine criminal case.

The court, however, refused to allow another batch of petitions seeking to quash the FIR registered against 52 other people charged with offences including assault of police personnel and causing damage to public property during the protest at a village in Nagapattinam district.

Granting relief to 92 people, Justice N Anand Venkatesh quashed the proceedings pending before a lower court in Vedaranyam against them for staging demonstration at Thalaignayiru village on November 18, 2018, days after the cyclone hit the region leaving a trail of destruction.

They staged the agitation against the alleged failure on part of the Tamil Nadu government to provide relief material in time.

The judge said the protest happened on the spur of the moment when people deprived of their basic necessities lost their sense of balance and acted out of desperation.

Noting that there was no material to show any