Hartal inappropriate, says Kerala High Court

Kochi: Kerala High Court on Monday observed that the conduct of the hartal in the state for whatever reason was inappropriate at  a time when the people were yet to recover from the devastation caused by the floods. A Division Bench comprising the chief justice and another judge expressed anguish whether such hartals would not affect the ongoing rehabilitation process.

The court made this observation when a public interest litigation filed by Ranni native and Pathanamthittal DCC vice-president Rinku Cheriyan seeking to appoint a tribunal or expert committee to assess the flood losses as per the Disaster Management Act and award compensation came up for hearing.

The court said that the judges could notice deserted roads in the morning. It was understood that the functioning of the offices and KSRTC buses was hit by the hartal. Hence, the concern was raised. It also directed that the recommendations of the amicus curiae appointed by the court should be considered in the meeting convened by the revenue and irrigation departments and the state disaster management authority must discuss the flood issues in the coming days. The court postponed the case for consideration along with similar cases.

The petitioner demanded separate disaster management projects for Sabarimala, Pampa and Thriveni. The state government had failed to prevent destruction to life and property in the floods. The water from Pampa quickly reached Ranni, Pathanamthitta and Chengannur. But there were no steps to prevent destruction before the flood waters came, it was stated.