Plea for upkeep of Ramnad libraries disposed of

Madurai: Madras high court has disposed of a plea to maintain libraries in Ramanathapuram district, after authorities informed the court that steps are being taken for the same.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by G Thirumurugan in 2018. The petitioner had sought a direction to ensure proper maintenance for Uppoor Sathiram library, Kadaladi library and other non-functioning libraries in the district.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the library building at Uppoor Sathiram was in a dilapidated condition and the same was demolished. However, no new building was constructed. In the status report, the authorities submitted the details about the functioning of libraries and the number of books available in libraries in the district. In respect of the library in Thondi, work order has been issued and the construction work has commenced.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Vijaykumar Gangapurwala and Justice P D Audikesavalu observed that the petitioner’s counsel accepted that progress has been made by the authorities. In case, after about one year also, if the petitioner finds that a particular library is not maintained properly, then, he may agitate afresh.
As far as Uppoor Sathiram library is concerned, it is informed that the same would come under the rural development department. The petitioner may file an application to the department which will be considered on its own merits, the judges observed and disposed of the petition.