The high court on Wednesday ordered the state government to comply with the orders issued by it regarding Vizhinjam International Seaport and file a compliance report.
Justice Anu Sivaraman issued the order after considering a contempt case filed by Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd (AVPL) against the chief secretary and other high-ranking state government officials alleging non-implementation of the court’s order of September 1 to provide police protection for carrying out the work for the port project.
In addition to the order to provide police protection, the court had on Friday ordered for immediately removing the shed put up by the protesters.
Through the order issued on Wednesday, the court directed, “The respondents shall comply with the directions issued by this Court. The official respondents shall report the compliance of the orders.” The court also directed for issuing notices to the protesters named as opposite parties and said the personal appearance of the authorities and protesters is dispensed with for the time being.
Those named as official respondents in the contempt plea are the chief secretary, the MD of state-owned Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd, the secretary of department of ports, state police chief, Thiruvananthapuram police commissioner, deputy commissioner and Vizhinjam SHO. Through an order issued on September 1, the court had ordered the officials to ensure that adequate police protection is provided to AVPL, its contractors, and workers in view of the protests being conducted by fishermen under the leadership of the Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum. The court had also ordered for deploying central forces if the state government is unable to maintain law and order in the project area.
