HC takes suo motu cognisance of school children's plight

Taking a suo motu cognisance of a media report about school-going children of a city suburb being forced to wade through backwaters due to lack of a bridge, Madras High Court today issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government to file its counter by August 19.
The First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, directed the Government Pleader to file the counter.
According to the report published in an English daily, the children residing in Pazhaverkadu, sea backwater area, had to walk in the backwaters for a kilometer after removing their shoes.
After reaching the other end of the backwaters, they had to wash their legs. Repeated representations made to the government seeking a bridge has not been heeded to.

The bench also included the state Environment and Forest Department secretary as a respondent.