KOCHI: The High Court has directed the government to inform its stand on the criminal cases registered against the anti-Silverline protesters. With the government deciding to conduct the survey with the help of modern technology, it should decide whether the protestors have to suffer anymore, the high court said.

Justice Devan Ramachandran's directive came in the petitions filed by Kottayam resident Muralikrishnan and others questioning the surveying as part of the social impact study of the project and the installation of concrete stones marked as K-Rail. The pleas were adjourned to September 26 as the government sought time to file its stand on the criminal cases.

The government and K-Rail officials had earlier informed the High Court that the social impact study had been stopped. It was also clarified that the survey will not be resumed without further notification.