Madras High Court today directed the Tamil Nadu Principal Home Secretary to convene the security review committee's meeting to decide on the threat perception to PMK leaders S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss.
Passing orders on a petition filed by PMK president G K Mani, Justice K K Sasidharan said that in the light of the sworn affidavits filed by Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss that there was a serious threat to their lives, the exercise should be completed on or before September 30.
Ramadoss resides at Thailapuram in Villupuram district.
The state government, which had earlier provided police protection to both of them taking into account the threat perception, had withdrawn it from April 26 this year.
Mani filed the petition, after the government failed to provide security as requested in his representation to the Home Secretary on July 23, 2013.
Justice Sasidharan said the government's decision to withdraw the security was taken by the security review committee prior to the unfortunate incidents in Dharmapuri district and in Marakkanam.
One person was killed in the April 25 clash between PMK cadres and villagers near Marakkanam in Kancheepuram district. Six persons have been arrested by Crime Branch CID of Tamil Nadu Police in connection with the clash.
The judge said security concerns raised by Ramadoss and Anbumani should be considered in the light of the difference of opinion between two political parties as a consequence of the violent incidents and the possible repercussion.
He further said that though the security review committee was the appropriate authority to decide the threat perception, it had not met after withdrawing security to the two PMK leaders.
He further observed that despite the police contention that there was no threat perception so as to give security to the PMK leaders, the fact remained that no recent review of security perception was held by the committee.
The judge said he was of the view the situation warranted review by the committee and passed the order.
