In the wake of the devastating Kallakurichi hooch tragedy that claimed over 60 lives, the Madras High Court has taken up a suo motu case to address the socio-economic plight of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities in the Kalvarayan hills region of Kallakurichi.A division bench comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan initiated the case, highlighting the dire need for socio-economic intervention in the underdeveloped villages surrounding the Kalvarayan hills. The bench noted that the economic backwardness and high unemployment rates have forced residents to resort to illicit liquor manufacturing for survival.
The court emphasized that the districts of Kallakurichi and Salem, which were annexed to India only after 1976, require immediate socio-economic attention. The lack of development and employment opportunities in these regions has perpetuated a cycle of poverty and crime. The bench underscored the urgent need to provide basic facilities and implement welfare schemes to uplift the residents.
The bench called for immediate action to bolster the economic situation in the region to prevent further illicit activities, such as the sale of arrack. Despite the prohibition of illicit liquor in Tamil Nadu, the Kallakurichi tragedy occurred, disproportionately affecting vulnerable sections of society. The court stressed the constitutional priority of addressing these issues.
Several authorities have been impleaded in the case, including the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, the Secretary to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the State Principal Secretary of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, and the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu. The court directed the registry to place the matter before the acting Chief Justice of the High Court for appropriate orders.
