The Madras High Court has instructed the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) and the Commissioner of Police of Chennai to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition. The petition, filed by a Chennai resident, requests that citizens be allowed to stay in public parks and on beaches until late hours to mitigate the effects of extreme summer heat.
On May 22, a vacation bench comprising Justices GR Swaminathan and PB Balaji issued a notice to the DGP and the Police Commissioner, asking them to submit their replies to the PIL by June 6.
The PIL was filed by RK Jaleel, a Chennai resident and social activist, through his counsel T Sivaganasambandan. Jaleel argued that the temperatures in Chennai have become “unbearably hot,” with daytime temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
He contended that the high temperatures are forcing people to stay indoors, negatively impacting their mental health. Jaleel recounted an incident from earlier this month when he and his family, along with others, were turned away by local police from Thiruvanmiyur beach around 9:30 pm.
Jaleel’s petition urges the Court to direct the police to allow citizens to remain on beaches and in parks until late hours to provide relief from the heat.
