The Madras High Court Bench here today ordered a notice to the central government on a PIL opposing the proposed corporatisation of V O Chidambaranar Port Trust in Tuticorin.
A division bench, comprising Justice S.Tamilvanan and Justice V S Ravi, ordered the notice to the Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Chairman National Shipping Board and V.O.C Port Trust Chairman seeking their replies within three weeks.
In the first PIL against corporatisation of major ports, petitioner S.Shanmuga Kumari, President of Port of New Tuticorin Anna Dock and Transport Workers Union, submitted that the proposal to corporatise 12 major ports, including Tuticorin, had been announced without consulting the workers.
The government had even appointed consultants to study the pros and cons of corporatising the ports.
The petitioner contended that the security of the nation would be in peril if Tuticorin Port was corporatised. The companies would be allowed to take part in export and import and there would be no strict security system, enabling unknown persons easy access to the ports. Even objectionable items would be imported, the petitioner contended.
Despite the close watch, a US ship, carrying arms, entered the port territory two years ago. One could imagine what would be the impact if the ports were privatised, the PIL said.
As the Port had vast stretch of land, those properties could be misutilised by the corporate company.
Besides, the job security of the workers would be affected and they would lose service benefits, including pension, the petition claimed.
