The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Complete shutdown hits normalcy

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Wednesday, Mar 02, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Complete shutdown hits normalcy

Staff Reporter

Karaikal Bar Association calls for protest seeking combined court complex

Photo:B.Velankanni Raj

Deserted town:Commercial establishments have downed shutters in response to a protest call by the Karaikal Bar Association on Tuesday.

KARAIKAL: The bandh call by the Karaikal Bar Association demanding a Combined Court Complex for Karaikal affected normalcy here in the district on Tuesday.

Alleging ‘second-class' treatment to Karaikal, the Bar has stated the decade-old demand for a new court complex was consistently sidelined. “A new Court complex was constructed for Puducherry, despite, Puducherry Bar passing a resolution to not be relocated to a new complex.

Today, Phase II works were under progress for Puducherry Court complex even when there was no demand for a new complex,” S.Selvaganapathy, President Bar Association told The Hindu. According to them, part of Court gave way, injuring a couple of employees in 1997, and only reparations were taken up since the incident.

The bandh, with the support of the Karaikal Chamber of Commerce, and all political parties barring the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Congress, witnessed a complete shutdown of commercial establishments. However, private buses and government buses continued to serve through the day.

It was reported that the Chief Minister V.Vaithilingam, during his visit last weekend, had delivered an assurance that about six acres of land would be allotted for the Combined Court Complex. “The assurance was a hollow one, as the promised land was part of 18 acres proposed for a new Collectorate Complex,” says Mr.Selvaganapathy.

The Karaikal Bar Association has been boycotting court from February 1, and their struggle was marked by intermittent token hunger strikes, and a rally.

According to the Bar, the boycott of Courts is slated to continue. Further course of action would be decided the following Sunday, Mr.Selvaganapathy told The Hindu.

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