Chief Justice & T.S.Sivagnanam, J.

1. These writ petitions designed as 'Public interest litigation' have been filed, praying for issuance of a writ of Declaration, declaring the action of the respondent, namely, the District Collector, Tirunelveli District, clamping an order under Section 144 CrPC, on the entire Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District from 3.00 p.m of 19.03.2012 till 3.00 p.m of 02.04.2012 as being null and void and for a consequential direction to restore normalcy to the Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District and in particular Idinthakarai.

2. The petitioners have stated that "The Hindu" dated 20.03.2012, reported that a Prohibitory Order under Section 144 CrPC was clamped on Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District and the Taluk comprises of about 50 villages and by virtue of such order, the people residing in those villages have been virtually under house arrest and therefore, a direction has been sought for immediately to lift the Prohibitory Order passed under Section 144 CrPC and allow the people of Radhapuram Taluk to move freely.

3. Mr. M. Radhakrishnan, learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner submitted that the District Collector in the gui