Madras High Court
Madras High Court Weekly Round-Up: March 09 - March 15, 2026
Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 104 To 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 113 NOMINAL INDEX State of Tamil Nadu and another v. V Shunmugam, 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 104 E Hariharan v. Union of India and Others, 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 105 B Shajimon v. Union of India and Others, 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 106 The Deputy Director v. The Deputy Superintendent of Police and Others, 2026 LiveLaw (Mad)...
SC/ST Act Enacted To Safeguard Interest Of Community Members, Not To Be Used As Tool Against Citizens: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently lamented the misuse of the benevolent provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Justice M Dhandpani observed that the Act was a beneficial legislation intended to protect the interests of the members belonging to the communities and should not be used as a tool against the citizens of the country. “...this...
"Conducted Parallel Trial": Madras High Court Quashes Tamil Nadu SHRC Order Against Police In Lois Sofia Case
The Madras High Court has quashed an order of the State Human Rights Commission recommending Rs. 2 Lakh compensation to Lois Sofia and disciplinary action against police officers who arrested her for raising slogans against former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. In September 2018, Sofia, a research scholar from Canada, was arrested after she shouted “fascist BJP...
Madras High Court Seeks Centre's Response On Challenge To BNSS Provision On Pre-Cognizance Hearing
A plea has been filed in the Madras High Court challenging the first proviso of Section 223 of the BNSS. As per the first proviso to Section 223 of the BNSS, A magistrate cannot take cognisance of an offence without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard. The plea, filed by Nakkheeran Gopal, an investigative journalist and owner of Nakkheeran Publications, states that the...
'For Protecting Devotees' Sentiments, They Attempted To Give Away God': Madras HC On State Giving Sand Dunes To School In Exchange For Temple Land
The Madras High Court recently directed the Tamil Nadu government to allot land to St.Josephs Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Cuddalore District in exchange for the land that the school had returned to a temple. Noting that the land initially allotted for the school was sand dunes, Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy noted that the state had acted recklessly and given away sand...
Can't Presume Husband & Wife Are Always Together, Last Seen Theory Must Be Proved: Madras HC Acquits Wife Convicted Of Husband's Murder
The Madras High Court recently acquitted a woman convicted of the murder of her husband. The bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh and Justice P Dhanabal noted that the woman was convicted purely on circumstantial evidence. The court noted that while convicting the wife, the trial court had noted that she had not discharged the burden to prove that she was not inside the house when the...
“I'm With Protestors, But Law & Order Can't Be Affected”: Madras High Court Asks Manamadurai Custodial Death Protestors To Vacate NH
The Madras High Court on Wednesday (11th March 2026) orally remarked that though it supported the protests against the custodial death of a 26 year old in Manamadurai, the protestors could not cause undue hardship to the general public by obstructing the national highway and essential public movement. Justice Victoria Gowri thus constituted a peace committee consisting of three lawyers...
Registering Authority Cannot Usurp Powers Of Civil Court To Cancel Sale Deed: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has reiterated that the registering authority does not have the power to go into the civil rights of parties. The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice K Surender held that the registering authority cannot usurp the powers of the civil court and can only interfere if there is any apparent error. The court added that if there is any doubt regarding the...
Must Prove Identity Of Deceased In Homicide Case: Madras High Court Faults Police, Trial Court For Not Conducting DNA Test Of Decomposed Corpse
The Madras High Court recently set aside the conviction of a woman for allegedly murdering her husband due to repeated quarrels and throwing his body in the nearby well. While doing so, the bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh and Justice P Dhanabal noted that in homicidal death cases, the primary fact that had to be proved was the identity of the deceased, which was not done in the...
Take Action Against District Collectors & Police Officials If They Don't Act To Remove Orderly System: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has asked the government to take appropriate action against District Collectors and police officials, if they do not act in accordance with the Government's policy to abolish the orderly system in the State. The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice K Surender noted that the orderly system had been abolished in the state and the government was duty-bound...
Special Court Under PC Act Is Also Designated Court Under PMLA: Madras High Court Transfers Money Laundering Case To CBI Court
The Madras High Court directed the transfer of a money laundering case lodged under the PMLA to the Special Court of CBI cases which is hearing the predicate offence under Prevention of Corruption Act in the matter, after noting that the Special Court under PC Act is a designated court under the PMLA as well. The bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava (now retired) and Justice...
Plea In Madras High Court Seeks Ban On Pre-Poll Alliance Between Political Parties, Says It Is Against Democracy
A plea has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking directions to the Election Commission of India to ban pre-poll alliances between political parties, alleging that they are against democratic principles. When the matter was taken up on Monday (March 10), the petitioner appeared in person before the bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan.However,...