CSK Bats for Dry Day on APJ's Birth Anniversary

CHENNAI: A judge of Madras High Court on Wednesday put forth a suggestion to the State government to consider declaring the birth anniversary of former president APJ Abdul Kalam as a dry day.

Justice CS Karnan said this while ordering notice to the government on a petition moved by Tamizhaga TASMAC Pattali Thozhilsangam seeking a direction to declare holiday for TASMAC shops on Thursday (July 30) as a mark of respect to the former President.

“The government has already declared days like Thiruvalluvar day and Mahaveer Jayanti as dry days. Similarly, Abdul Kalam’s birth anniversary can also be declared a dry day,” the Judge suggested.

However, Justice Karnan refused to pass any orders on the petition, saying “There is no disagreement that Kalam was a great personality, but I cannot pass any orders without hearing the government.”

The association represented by its treasurer R Mayakrishnan submitted that the State government through a GO declared July 30, a holiday to all educational institutions, government and private establishments as a mark of respect. But, TASMAC failed to declare holiday to all its employees based on the GO. It further failed to respond to a representation made by the association in this regard, said advocate P Balu, counsel for the petitioner. He sought the court to direct the government to declare a holiday on Thursday to all the TASMAC employees based on the GO.

Opposing the plea, government advocate Ramesh said, “As about eight Chief Ministers of various States are participating in the funeral of Abdul Kalam, all the higher officials are in Ramanathapurm district. Hence we could not get proper instruction from the authorities.”

He submitted an order of the Ramanathapuram district collector declaring closure of TASMAC shops across the district on Wednesday and Thursday. Appreciating the collector’s decision to close the shops, the Judge ordered notice to the government and posted the matter to Monday for further hearing.