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New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras High Court directs state to issue guidelines to authorities to ensure road quality
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court recently directed the State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department and the Highways Department to issue guidelines within a month to all subordinate authorities to ensure that roads are laid according to the standards established by the government. In the event of any lapse, negligence or dereliction of duty, disciplinary proceedings should be initiated against the officials concerned. Further action should be taken against contractors to recover the financial loss caused to the exchequer, the court added. A bench of justices S M Subramaniam and A D Maria Clete issued the directions on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by C M Raghavan, seeking action against a contractor for allegedly laying a substandard road in Tirunelveli district. Raghavan also wanted the court to ensure that the road is re-laid by the contractor utilising their funds, in addition to paying a penalty of 10% of the contract value. During the hearing, the government counsel informed that a new road was already laid during the pendency of the petition. However, the petitioner wanted action to be taken against the contractor. Hearing both sides, the judges observed that private contractors, in collusion with the government authorities, are laying roads using substandard materials without adhering to the standards established by the government. The competent authorities are bound to conduct inspection while road projects are being implemented, they added. The state has to issue stern instructions to its officials that in the event of any damage or violation, both the contractor and the inspecting officials should be held responsible and the financial losses assessed should be recovered from all concerned, the judges observed and gave the above directions. The matter was posted on August 8 for reporting compliance.
New Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Oraniyil TN' case: Madras HC rejects DMK's request for urgent hearing
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday turned down DMK's request for an urgent hearing over a PIL petition that sought action against the party for alleged unauthorised collection of personal data of voters under the guise of 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu' campaign. Appearing through video conference before a bench of justices S M Subramaniam and A D Maria Clete on Tuesday morning, senior counsel P Wilson, who represented DMK, contended that petitioner S Rajkumar has made false allegations and that DMK cadre did not collect Aadhaar details during the enrolment drive. Claiming that an interim order was obtained by making false charges, Wilson requested the court to take up the matter for urgent hearing. However, the judges refused and told him to file an impleading petition. On Monday, Rajkumar alleged that DMK cadre demanded personal identification documents of voters. They also got the mobile numbers of voters and enrolled them as members of the party by verifying a One Time Password (OTP) sent to their number. Hearing this, the bench ordered an interim injunction restraining DMK from sending OTP verification messages to individuals and adjourned the case for two weeks.
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC restrains DMK from using OTP verification as part of ‘Oraniyil TN'
MADURAI: Expressing serious concern over the safety of data privacy of voters, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday ordered interim injunction, restraining DMK from sending OTP verification messages to enroll voters as part of its 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu' campaign, until the issues of voters' privacy and data protection are examined. A bench comprising justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete passed the interim order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by S Rajkumar of Thiruppuvanam taluk in Sivaganga, seeking legal action against DMK and its functionaries for alleged unauthorised collection of Aadhaar and other personal details of individuals during the campaign. The judges directed all authorities concerned to provide details on the data privacy policy employed in the above membership drive, whether informed consent is obtained from individuals during the drive, and the purpose of collecting individual data. The union ministry of information technology, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the DMK are also parties to the case. The case has been adjourned for two weeks for filing counter-affidavit and supporting documents. The bench observed that freedom of political expression cannot be exercised freely if details on political affiliation are not held private. Information about a person's political beliefs can be used by the state to suppress dissent and to discriminate by denying employment and subjecting them to trolls, the judges said. Even digital membership drive by political parties is also a data privacy concern that has to be addressed, they added.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Madras high court stays OTP verification during DMK's 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu' enrolment drive
Madras high court MADURAI: Madras high court on Monday ordered a limited interim injunction restraining DMK from sending OTP verification messages during the party's enrolment drive 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu'. The restraint order shall be in force until the issues of right to privacy and data protection are examined by the court in detail. A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete, passed the interim orders on a PIL pertaining to DMK's 'Oraniyil Tamil Nadu', which is a mass membership drive organised across the state by DMK. 'Digital membership drives conducted by the political parties in recent times are a new area of study, whereby there is a clear departure from the conventional modes of inducting party members. The bearing it has on the data privacy of the individual is a concern that has to be addressed. Hence, a clarity is required as to the means and infrastructure adopted by the political parties to collect, process and store data from the public. How this data is stored and processed and the implications on the right to privacy of the voter including the right to privacy of the political affiliation also ought to be examined," the judges observed. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai In the absence of accountability and transparency in the data collected from individuals across the state, it is an issue which needs elaborate analysis, the judges said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Book Now And Save up to ₹23.71L on Luxury Homes in Whitefield Sumadhura Group Learn More Undo A valid and free consent is an essential part of such membership programmes organized by the political parties. Hence, no force or coercion shall be employed in such membership drives conducted by the political parties, they said. The judges then directed the DMK to provide details on the data privacy policy employed in this membership campaign and ensure the security of the data collected and whether 'informed consent' is obtained from the individuals in this membership drive. It is also to be seen if other smaller or economically challenged political parties will be put in a disadvantageous position and will disturb the level playing field in the election thereby impacting Article 14 of the Constitution, the judges observed. Justice Maria Clete, in a separate order, observed that when a query was put forth as to whether any mechanism or designated authority exists to address violations under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, the Centre responded that rules have been framed under the Act and that the authority concerned is the joint secretary. However, the Centre sought time to verify and respond on the specific operational aspects and the institutional framework under the Act. The judge observed that she agreed to the interim order particularly in light of the serious concerns relating to personal data protection and digital privacy. However, she made it clear that such relief is extended with circumspection, particularly in the absence of a counter-affidavit and without full knowledge of the programme's operational framework. She clarified that she did not agree with Justice Subramaniam's views pertaining to smaller or economically challenged political parties being put in a disadvantageous position. They were not immediately germane to the legal and factual matrix presently before the court, she said. The judges then ordered notice to the Centre, state and DMK and adjourned the hearing in the case by two weeks. The court passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by S Rajkumar, a resident of T Athikarai village in Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Form special team to probe property scam in Madurai: HC
Madurai: Madras high court on Thursday directed the inspector general of police (south zone) and the Madurai city commissioner of police to constitute a special investigation team headed by a senior IPS officer with proven integrity to probe the property tax scam in Madurai corporation and submit a report before the court. A division bench of justice S M Subramaniam and justice A D Maria Clete observed that the petitioner, T Ravi, AIADMK councillor of ward 83 of Madurai corporation, had contended it was a huge scam and there was a delay in even registering the FIR, which raises doubt about the fairness of the investigation since political people are involved. Taking note of the fact that, as per instructions of chief minister M K Stalin, five zonal chairpersons and two committee chairpersons have resigned from their posts, the judges observed that it shows the govt itself has taken steps to uncover the truth and prosecute the people involved in the crime. "However, a scam of this magnitude must be investigated by an IPS officer, which should be monitored by higher authorities to ensure there are no lapses and no higher-level persons are left out from the ambit of prosecution. All responsible and accountable for causing a huge loss to the corporation should be prosecuted," the judges observed and directed the authorities to constitute a special investigating team to probe the case to ensure a free and fair investigation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3BHK Transformation Possible for ₹4.5 Lakh? HomeLane Get Quote Undo Ravi filed a public interest litigation, in which he stated that a huge scam in the assessment of property tax in the corporation came to light in 2024. He alleged that several corporation officials, in connivance with the zonal chairpersons, were involved in the scam. He also alleged that the property tax scam resulted in a loss of more than 200 crore in revenue to the corporation. He stated that the scam was committed by manipulating property tax assessments in the Urban Tree Information System (UTIS). The property tax assessments were reduced using methods that included showing lesser built area, showing a commercial building as a residential building, and removing the construction of a few rooms from the buildings in the property tax server. This occurrence happened between 2022 and 2024. The petitioner stated that based on certain complaints about irregularities in the assessment of property tax, the then corporation commissioner constituted a committee in 2024 to conduct an inquiry. The commissioner also lodged a complaint with the commissioner of police on Sept 10, 2024. However, the central crime branch unit registered a case only on June 17, 2025. He added that police took action only against low-profile people and did not take action against the real culprits who have political influence. Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking to transfer the investigation to the CBI to ensure a fair investigation and to arrest the real accused involved in the scam.
