HC rejects plea to declare 'Thai Pusam' as public holiday

: The Madras High Court today dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to declare "Thai Pusam" as public holiday, saying it was for the government to take a call on such matters.
When the petition filed by one A Annadurai of Tirupur came up, the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar observed that it was for the state government to take a decision on such matters and declined to venture into those areas.
'Thai Pusam,' which marks full moon day in the Tamil month of Thai falls this year on February 9.

The petitioner submitted that in countries like Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Singapore, Thai Pusa Thirunnal is declared as public holiday.
Hence, the same may be declared as public holiday in Tamil Nadu also, he said.
The bench questioned the petitioner's counsel whether he was aware of the number of public holidays declared in those countries and refused to direct the state government to consider the plea of the petitioner.