In a rare sitting on a Sunday, the Supreme Court will hear a petition seeking restraint on Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK and its allies from enforcing a statewide bandh on October 1 over the Ram Sethu project issue.
A bench headed by acting Chief Justice B N Aggarwal will hear the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by opposition AIADMK in an open court at 10.30 am.
The AIADMK in the SLP contended that the proposed Monday bandh sought to be enforced was unconstitutional and violative of the apex court's directive on the issue. Seldom does the apex court take up for open hearing on any matter on Sundays and holidays unless the issue involved is of grave importance.
The AIADMK has sought special hearing of its SLP on the plea that its petition would become infructuous if no decision was taken before Sunday.
The petitioner submitted that the bandh was unwarranted as the matter relating to the Ram Sethu project was already pending before the apex court. The party moved the SLP through its counsel Subramaniam Prasad who approached registrar general R K Jain for the purpose.
In the absence of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Jain referred the matter to the acting chief justice Aggarwal who agreed to conduct special hearing on Sunday.
Tamil Nadu counsel V G Pragasam said the government would oppose the petition during the hearing.