Latest news with #MaduraiBenchofMadrasHighCourt
New Indian Express
3 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
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Madras HC imposes Rs 10,000 fine on Kanniyakumari cops, transfers dowry case
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has imposed penalty of Rs 10,000 on Kanniyakumari police for failing to take action on a dowry harassment complaint made by a woman at the Nagercoil All Women Police Station, despite orders passed by the magistrate court and the high court. The judge further directed the SP to transfer the case from the AWPS to some other sincere investigation officer. Justice B Pugalendhi passed the order while allowing a contempt petition filed by J Udhaya Santhiya. She had lodged a dowry harassment complaint against her husband and in-laws with Nagercoil All Women Police in February 2023. Since there was no action, she moved the district Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate court in Boothapandi, and the court directed police to inquire into the complaint and register a case. In spite of the order, police did not hold inquiry following which Santhiya moved the HC. In February last year, the court directed police to comply with the magistrate's order. Even then, the police did not register a case, forcing Santhiya to file a contempt petition.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Madras HC imposes Rs 10,000 fine on Kumari cops, transfers dowry case
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has imposed penalty of Rs 10,000 on Kanniyakumari police for failing to take action on a dowry harassment complaint made by a woman at the Nagercoil All Women Police Station, despite orders passed by the magistrate court and the high court. The judge further directed the SP to transfer the case from the AWPS to some other sincere investigation officer. Justice B Pugalendhi passed the order while allowing a contempt petition filed by J Udhaya Santhiya. She had lodged a dowry harassment complaint against her husband and in-laws with Nagercoil All Women Police in February 2023. Since there was no action, she moved the district Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate court in Boothapandi, and the court directed police to inquire into the complaint and register a case. In spite of the order, police did not hold inquiry following which Santhiya moved the HC. In February last year, the court directed police to comply with the magistrate's order. Even then, the police did not register a case, forcing Santhiya to file a contempt petition.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Property tax scam: Madras HC seeks probe progress
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Friday directed Tamil Nadu police to file a counter affidavit mentioning the progress of investigation into the Madurai Corporation's property tax scam case. A bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete gave the direction on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by AIADMK councillor T Ravi seeking CBI investigation into the scam. Earlier, the court had ordered constitution of a special investigation team headed by a senior IPS officer to probe into the scam. When the case was heard on Friday, government counsel said a SIT had been formed under Madurai Range DIG Abhinav Kumar. Recording this, the judges directed police to file a counter affidavit mentioning it as well as the investigation progress, in two weeks and adjourned the case. Ravi has alleged Rs 200 crore loss to the corporation because of the scam. So far, eleven people have been arrested in the case. Five zonal chairpersons and two standing committee chairpersons have resigned from their posts and 15 corporation have been placed under suspension.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Madras HC denies bail to four retired cops in 1999 custodial death case
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court recently denied bail to four police personnel, since retired, who were convicted last year in a custodial death case in Thoothukudi in 1999. A bench of justices AD Jagadish Chandira and R Poornima passed the order on the petitions filed by Subbiah, S Ramakrishnan, Jeyasekaran and Veerabahu = to suspend the life sentence imposed on them on April 5, 2025, for brutally assaulting C Vincent of West Alangarathattu in 1999, resulting in his death. While their appeal against the order is pending, the petitioners moved the court seeking suspension of sentence and release on bail. Ramakrishnan's counsel said that his name was not found in the RDO's report or the complaint. The fact that he was implicated belatedly after several years has caused grave prejudice to him in defending his case, he claimed. The entire trial is vitiated on account of the procedural violations and non-conduct of independent police investigation, which is mandated under Section 176 of CrPC, he further said. Stating that he has to undergo a cardiac surgery, he sought bail. The other petitioners too denied their involvement and claimed their presence at the station at the time of occurrence has not been proved properly.
