CHENNAI: Assuring the Madras High Court that the State government is not vengeful against Tamil magazine Nakkeeran, Advocate General A Navaneethakrishnan on Wednesday told the first bench that neither water nor electricity to the publication was disconnected.Editor of Nakkeeran, R Gopal, had petitioned seeking protection for his employees and family following protests by AIADMK members over the publication of a defamatory article on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.When the matter was taken up on Tuesday, the AG told the bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam that security had been provided for the magazine. However, it was contended that water and power supply had been snapped. The allegation was denied by the State and the matter was adjourned.When the petition came up on Wednesday, the AG again asserted that water and power connections were not disconnected. The petitioner’s advocate, P T Perumal, said power to the binding and printing sections remains disconnected.The AG said that though the magazine had hurt the people of Tamil Nadu thro-ugh the libellous report, the State does not have any intention of taking revenge against the magazine.If Nakkeeran does not have power supply, it is due to technical issues. Power supply will be resumed after the technical problem is sorted out, the AG said.After hearing both sides, the bench said they hoped that amenities, including power and water supply, would be restored to Nakkeeran — if disconnected — by January 14. The matter has been adjourned for hearing on January 18. Meanwhile, the hearing of a petition by R Gopal seeking anticipatory bail in respect of criminal cases against him, was adjourned to Thursday.
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