Madras High Court, which took up suo motu a letter submitted by a visually challenged advocate on alleged police action on visually disabled persons here last year, directed the Police Commissioner to submit an affidavit if any guidelines exist as to how demonstrations of persons with special needs, are to be handled.
The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M.Sathyanarayanan, posed several questions on the incident and directed the Commissioner of Police to file a proper affidavit within two weeks from today.
The First Bench, not satisfied with the affidavit filed by the Secretary of Home Department, in its order, said "The affidavit is filed by the Secretary to the Government Department and not Police Authorities i.E the Commissioner of Police who took them into custody. It is the Commissioner of Police, in our view, who can throw light on the incident, specifying the details."
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The letter, submitted by advocate R. Mohammed Nasurullah's letter on September 23 last, alleged that law enforcing authorities beat up members of the Blind Association who were peacefully demonstrating to press their demands.
The letter was taken as suo motu PIL by the then First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice, which ordered issue of notice to Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Social Welfare Department, and the Commissioner of Police, Chennai City.
STS Murthy, Special Government Pleader, had sought time to get instructions from authorities.
