Slamming the very concept of a bandh and the perceived defiance of law, the Supreme Court today stopped the DMK-sponsored Tamil Nadu bandh called tomorrow to demand early completion of the Sethusamudram shipping canal project.

Holding a rare sitting on a Sunday, the bench of Acting Chief Justice B N Aggrawal and P P Naolekar ordered that the DMK and its allies shall not go ahead with the bandh either on October 1 or any other date, as the bandh per se was illegal and unconstitutional in view of the court’s earlier ruling on the validity of bandhs.

Stung by the court order, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi changed plans and decided that he and his alliance leaders would fast tomorrow in support of their demand. Declining to comment on the order, Karunanidhi told reporters “the hunger strike is for removal of Nandis (obstacles)” for speedy implementation of the project. Instead of the bandh, we will be observing a fast, he said.

The Supreme Court passed the direction on an “urgent application” filed by the opposition AIADMK along with its special leave petition seeking an injunction against the bandh. The three-hour argument that preceded the direction saw the bench making some scathing and stinging remarks against the very concept of a bandh.

“That’s the problem in this country. We have to deal everything with an iron hand in this country. Otherwise things will not work. Every organ, let it be the legislature, executive or judiciary has to deal with an iron hand,” the bench said.

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