Madras HC directs Madurai collector to provide job for widow

Madurai: The Madras High Court bench here has come to the rescue of a 35-year-old widow, who lost her daughter in an accident involving a sand-laden cart in 2010, by directing the Madurai District Collector to provide her employment in a noon meal center in a week's time. Justice KK Sasidaran yesterday directed the collector to file a compliance report on the same on Aug 22. The petitioner M Nithya submitted that her 9-year-old daughter died after being hit by a rashly-driven sand-laden cart, while she was on her way to school in a bicycle, in June 2010. Shocked by the death of the daughter, her husband died nine days later, she said. Despite repeated representations to the officials no action was taken against illegal sand miners and transporters indulging in sand mining in Vaigai river bed in Sholavandan area, she submitted. She had even approached the Collector seeking compensation and a job on compassionate grounds as loneliness and sorrow made her mentally weak, but of no avail, she said. Even though the tahsildar of Vadipatti taluk had recommended to officials for relief from the Chief Minister's relief fund, no action was taken, she further submitted. Recording the submission, the judge said taking into consideration the plight of the woman and also the fact that the tahsildar had recommended relief, the collector is directed to provide a job for her in a noon meal center in the district.