Bombay High Court allows public meeting at Jaitapur

The Bombay High Court today granted permission to two former judges to hold a public meeting for the second time to hear the grievances of villagers regarding proposed nuclear power plant at Jaitapur in coastal Maharashtra.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice RS Dalvi was hearing a petition filed by a villager, Premanand Tiwarkar, who stated in his petition that the villagers are opposed to the power plant.

According to the petition, a public meeting was held in south Mumbai by retired judges AP Shah and SD Pandit in May but the villagers could not attend it. Hence, they sought a fresh meeting to be held in Jaitapur.

Tiwarkar approached the high court as Ratnagiri district collector under the Bombay Police Act restrained any public gathering in and around the proposed site to maintain law and order.

The petitioners argued that the public meeting is a peaceful affair to help locals voice their grievances.

Accepting the arguments, the court permitted the public meeting to be held but with riders.

The bench has said the hearing shall have not more than 20 persons from the general public present at a time.