Notice on denying hunger strike

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has issued a notice to the DSP, Mamallapuram, and inspector attached to Kalpakkam police station, seeking their reply with regard to rejection of permission to the Peoples Movement for Nuclear Safety to hold a day’s hunger strike near Poigaikarai Rountana in Sathurangapattinam on December 12 last.Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar ordered the notice, returnable by January 2, while taking on file a writ petition from K Duraisamy, ward member of Sathurangapattinam Panchayat.According to petitioner, the movement, in which he was also an office-bearer, was started to highlight the health hazards faced by the people living in and around Kalpakkam due to the continuous functioning of the nuclear power plant. To draw attention, they decided to hold a day’s fast on December 12. However, by an order dated December 10, the local inspector denied permission. Petitioner contended that due to the continuous functiong of the nuclear plant, the people residing in and around Kalpakkam were afflicted with various diseases, including cancer. According to a study, in the last 10 years alone 244 cases of cancer were detected in Kalpakkam. No speciality hospital for radiation-related diseases was functioning in Kalpakkam. The rejection order was violative of Articles 14 and 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, petitioner added.