Govt's first priority should be to find solution to people's problems: Kerala High Court

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court Tuesday orally observed that the government's first priority should be to find a solution to the problems of people.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran made the observation when two petitions against the Secretariat siege by Left Democratic Front volunteers, which has now been called off, came up before the court.

The bench asked Advocate General K P Dandapani as to which problem the government was giving priority-- flood related activities or the present problem?

"When our state is facing huge loss in agriculture due to heavy rains experienced this year, the government's first priority should be given to the problem of the people', the court orally held.

The bench said 'we are not arbitrators to decide who is wrong'.

In reply to the plea that provisions of restriction of Assemblies and Procession on Public Pavement Act are not being enforced by the government, the court said that Constitutional courts cannot compel enforcement of law.

The state government filed a statement showing the precautionary measures taken to face the situation of agitation.

Though the parties were asked to address the court in the afternoon, when the matter taken up, the court was informed that the strike had been called off.

Following the request of the petitioners, the case was adjourned to Monday.

Ruling UDF earlier had earlier Tuesday announced a probe into the solar scam, leading to CPI-M led LDF Opposition calling off their siege to the secretariat,which saw thousands of protesters converging in the state capital since Monday, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

The scam pertains to financial cheating of several people by the accused Biju Radkahrishnan and Saritha Nair, both under arrest, by offering clients solar energy solutions.

The accused allegedly flaunted their clout with the CM's office for duping unsuspecting clients of huge sums.PTI 9 illegal fireworks units sealed; Rs 3 lakh fireworks seized

Virudhungar, Aug 13 (PTI): Nine fireworks factories operating here without proper licence were sealed Tuesday on the directions of Madurai Bench of Madras High court and Rs three lakh worth of fireworks seized from there, officials said.

With this, a total of 79 fireworks units have been sealed so far in the district, they said.

A high-level committee inspected the factories and recommended that they be sealed, after which it was done. Chemically coated wicks and fireworks stored in houses for undertaking job works were also seized, they said.

On July 21 police had registered a case against the owner of a sealed factory after one person died while mixing chemicals.

The officials warned of severe action against anyone trying to operate sealed factories and said the owners would be permanently banned from explosives or fireworks business.

They said sealing of the factories would increase manifold the cost of fireworks ahead of festival season.

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