1992 Vachathi Crimes: Madras High Court Upholds Convictions Of Police, Forest And Revenue Officials, Orders 10 Lakh Compensation For Rape Victims

The Madras High Court on Friday (September 29) dismissed the appeals preferred by 126 forest officials, 84 police personnel and 5 revenue officials against their convictions and sentence for various crimes that took place in Vachathi, in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu. Coincidentally, the Sessions Court judgment finding the accused guilty was also passed on September 29 in the...

Madras High Court Directs State To Prevent Use Of Stickers Like "Govt Of India", "Police" On Private Vehicles

The Madras High Court recently observed that the state authorities including the Home department, transport department and police are bound to ensure that stickers and artifacts having “Emblem”, “G”, “Govt of India”, “Government of Tamil Nadu”, “High Court”, “Police” are not used on private vehicles. Calling such monitoring a continuous process, Chief Justice...

S.34 SARFAESI Act | Civil Court's Jurisdiction Not Ousted When Remedy Cannot Be Effectively Addressed By Tribunal: Madras High Court

While dismissing an application filed under Section 34 of the SARFAESI Act to reject a plaint on the ground that the court's jurisdiction was ousted, the Madras High Court observed that the civil court's jurisdiction is not ousted when the remedy sought cannot be effectively addressed by the Tribunal. Justice RN Manjula noted that the case, which involved rights relating to property...

Madras High Court Directs BJP MLAs Accused Of Grabbing Temple Land To Return Possession, Subject Themselves To CID Probe

The Madras High Court has directed two BJP MLAs from Puducherry and their family members to return vacant possession of a temple land allegedly grabbed by them illegally, to Sri Kamatchi Amman Devasthanam.Justice SM Subramaniam also asked the father-son duo, A John Kumar and Vivilian Richards John Kumar, to subject themselves to probe being conducted by the Crime-Branch of...

[S.15A SC/ST Act] Victim Need Not Be Put To Notice Of Habeas Corpus Plea Moved By Accused Following Preventive Detention: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has made it clear that the habeas corpus petition challenging the preventive detention of a person who is accused of committing offences under the Schedules Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is not a 'connected proceeding' for the purposes of Section 15-A(3) and (5) of the Act.The Sections make provision of notice and opportunity of hearing to the...

Madras HC Orders 25 Lakh Compensation For Man's Death By Electrocution At Temple Medical Camp, Says Govt Bound To Arrange For Pilgrims Well Being

Granting compensation to man whose son died due to electrocution while on a temple pilgrimage, the Madras High Court emphasised that as per the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, the local body was obligated to make arrangements for the well-being of the devotees. Justice GR Swaminathan of the Madurai bench noted that the municipality could not remain content with the...

Madras High Court Frames Procedure For Police To Record Witness Statements Through Audio-Visual Electronic Means At Least In Serious Crimes

Complying with an earlier order of the Supreme Court and in the interest of criminal justice system, the Madras High court has directed the Principal Secretary, Home Department and the Director General of Police to record statements of witnesses under Section 161 CrPC using audio-visual electronic means, at least in matters involving serious offences.Section 161 CrPC empowers...

Husband’s Illicit Relationship With Sister-In-Law Cruelty U/S 498A IPC: Madras High Court Sets Aside Acquittal, Criticises Probe

While setting aside the acquittal of a man in a case involving death of his wife by self-immolation, the Madras High Court has observed that the husband’s illicit relation with his elder brother’s wife would amount to cruelty on the wife within the meaning of Section 498A of IPC. The appellant, who was the mother of the victim, had contended that the victim had committed...

Madras High Court Advocates Association Passes Resolution Against CAT Judicial Member, Says She Asked An Advocate To 'Get Out'

In a resolution signed by more than 200 advocates, the Madras High Court Advocates Association has condemned the conduct of the Judicial Member of Central Administrative Tribunal, Chennai Bench, Ms Lata Baswaraj Patne, stating that she asked a lawyer to “get out”. In its resolution dated September 26th, the Association said that the utterances made by the member revealed...

Mother Entitled To Share In Pensionary Benefits Of Deceased Son Even In Absence Of Name In Service Register: Madras High Court

Coming to the aid of a mother seeking a share of the terminal and pensionary benefits of her deceased son, the Madras High court observed that the mother, being a senior citizen and one of the legal heirs was entitled to a share in the terminal and pensionary benefits. Though the Director of Ex-Service Men Welfare submitted that the deceased had nominated his wife to receive...

“Judiciary Has Broad Shoulders To Take On Any Criticism”: Madras HC While Quashing Criminal Case Against Political Commentator Badri Seshadri

The Madras High Court recently quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against political commentator Badri Seshadri for making adverse comments about the Chief Justice of India for taking up suo moto cognisance of the violence in Manipur. Seshadri was arrested on July 29, 2023 and later granted bail on August 1, 2023 by the District Munisff-cum-Judicial Magistrate court in...

Madras HC Refuses Compensation To Lawyer Injured By Police Action On 'Unlawful' PFI March, Says Private Persons Must Also Uphold Rule Of Law

While refusing relief to a lawyer seeking compensation for the injuries he sustained at the hands of the police in connection with a PFI march, the Madras High Court emphasised that law applies not only to the State machinery but also to individuals. Justice GR Swaminathan of the Madurai bench was constrained to make the statement after noting that the petitioner and other members of...