The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Debate judicial verdicts on strike”

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Friday, Oct 05, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Debate judicial verdicts on strike”

Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss on Thursday sought a nation-wide debate on judicial pronouncements on strike and agitations.

Representatives of political parties, legal luminaries, former judges and social activists should express their views boldly on “contradictory judgments” on vital issues, he said.

Addressing a press conference at Thailapuram, Dr. Ramadoss said a review was necessary in the aftermath of the day-long fast undertaken by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies in the State recently. It was a democratic right to stage demonstrations and agitations for people’s welfare and the cause of labour. Strike and bandh used to be part of such struggles. He said over a period of time judgments had transformed into law to be applied universally and salient examples in this regard were the verdicts on creamy layer and reservation.

Dr. Ramadoss drew a distinction between legislation passed by the Assemblies and Parliament and the law enacted by the courts. Legislation passed after wholesome discussions on its pros and cons was for the general good of the people.

What was causing concern was that of late, the number of laws enacted by courts far exceeded the ones passed by the legislature and this trend was not conducive for democracy, he said.

He pointed out that when the medicos of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences struck work protesting the 27 per cent reservation in Central institutions, the Supreme Court pronounced the strike illegal, but ordered the Centre to disburse salary as an exception. At the same time, when the Gujjars in Rajasthan and neighbouring States launched a stir demanding Scheduled Tribe status, the apex court termed it a national shame. Such differing stands deserved a review.

He called upon the Tamil Nadu Government to make public the details of the action taken against self-financing professional colleges collecting exorbitant fees.

No polls

Dr. Ramadoss ruled out snap polls to the Lok Sabha. Elections would be held whenever they were due. It was a wishful thinking of the Bharatiya Janata Party and other parties that the elections would be advanced.

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