Latest news with #MaduraiBenchofMadrasHighCourt
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Not experts to declare waterbody as sanctuary: Madurai bench of Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Wednesday disposed of suo motu proceedings initiated to declare Samanatham tank in Thiruparankundram as a sanctuary, observing that it is not an expert body and cannot issue a positive direction substituting expert views and directives of the executives. "No doubt bird migration activities are going on in the tank. But such decisions have to be taken by the government on the recommendations of the competent authorities and by getting expert reports from the concerned authorities," a bench comprising justices S M Subramaniam and A D Maria Clete noted. Declaration of a tank as a sanctuary requires certain procedures to be followed under statutes and rules in force, they pointed out. The Wildlife Protection Act contemplates various conditions and circumstances warranting such a declaration in the public interest. The authorities may take note of the facts reiterated by the division bench concerned while initiating suo motu proceedings and if necessary, take action, the judges added. The court had initiated the proceedings in February by taking suo motu cognizance of various appeals made to protect the water body. It also took note of a news report published by TNIE on August 25, 2024, about a similar recommendation made by the Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation, which had visited the water body and found about 300 rare species of birds. At present, the tank is easily accessible to the public and is therefore vulnerable to poaching and loss of natural habitat, the court noted. Recalling that a PIL petition filed by R Manibharathi seeking the same relief was closed given the submissions made by the state that proposals have been forwarded to the government, the court had initiated the suo moto proceedings.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
‘No upkeep', NHAI can't levy toll on Thoothukudi NH: Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday directed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) not to collect toll fee from motorists on the Madurai-Thoothukudi national highway (NH-38), till maintenance works are carried out. A bench of justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by a retired Tangedco employee, V Balakrishnan of Thoothukudi. Balakrishnan contended that the contract for the road was awarded to Madurai-Tuticorin Expressways Limited (MTEL) of the Madhucon Projects Limited in 2006 and the road was brought to use in 2011. Though the estimated cost of the project was Rs 920 crore, the company had received around Rs 932.44 crore, without even fully completing the sapling plantation work on the roadside and the median, Balakrishnan alleged. The company collected fee from public on two toll plazas in the stretch, but failed to maintain the road surface, due to which many portions of the road became non-motorable, he added. As a result, NHAI terminated its contract with the company in 2023 and took control of the stretch but NHAI too began collecting toll fee, without carrying out repair and plantation works, Balakrishnan said and requested the court to direct NHAI to collect only 30% of toll fee till it undertakes maintenance work. Also, he sought action against the MTEL for its mismanagement. During the hearing on Tuesday, the government counsel submitted that arbitration proceedings are pending between NHAI and the company. Recording this, the judges passed the order and disposed of the petition. The matter was posted on June 18 for reporting compliance.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Madurai HC directs HR, CE to respond on plea to restore 10-day brahmotsavam at Rameswaram temple
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department to file counter affidavit on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition which sought a direction to conduct the brahmotsavam (Ramalinga Prathishtai) at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram in the traditional manner for 10 days, instead of limiting it to three days. A bench comprising justices SM Subramaniam and AD Maria Clete noted that this year's festival commenced on Tuesday (June 3) and therefore, no direction could be issued. However, the judges recorded the submission of the temple's counsel that the temple authorities could look into the customary practices relating to the festival and follow them from next year. The case was adjourned for two weeks. The petitioner, Elephant of Chennai, alleged that the festival, also known as Ramalinga Prathishtai, had not been conducted for the past 10 years. The festival begins in the Tamil month 'Ani' and take place for 10 days. However, this year, it is being organised in 'Vaikasi', only for three days, he said adding that such alteration or dilution of an ancient temple festival by the HR and CE authorities hurts the sentiments of devotees and is an offence under Rule 8 and 9 of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947.
New Indian Express
02-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Madras HC upholds disciplinary action against inspector in corruption caseprobe
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court recently confirmed an order passed by a single judge upholding disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Tirunelveli deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police against an inspector in 2024 over corruption charges. A bench of justices J Nisha Banu and S Srimathy made the decision while dismissing an appeal filed by inspector, B Saravanan, challenging the single judge's order which had permitted the DIG to proceed with the inquiry on two of the three charges made against him. According to the judgment, the charges were that he had demanded Rs 40,000 bribe for granting station bail to suspects in a criminal case involving pollution and demanded Rs 1 lakh for not implicating a tractor owner in a sand theft case. Saravanan claimed that the charge memo was issued due to personal vendetta and that the accused did not lodge any complaint. Dismissing his appeal, the division bench said the charges involve the morale of the officer and their veracity could be ascertained only after proper probe. Saravanan cannot take umbrage of the fact that the accused did not file any complaint, the judges added.
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Police office staff gets no relief in POSH Act probe in Tamil Nadu
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has refused to quash disciplinary proceedings initiated against a section superintendent in Madurai District Police Office (DPO) in 2020 for allegedly sexually harassing two women colleagues. Justice B Pugalendhi passed the order recently while disposing of a petition filed by the section superintendent challenging the charge memo and the appointment of inquiry officer. The petitioner contended that according to the complainants, the alleged incident was said to have taken place in 2006 but the complaints were lodged only in 2019 and were therefore hit by limitation under section 9 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Justice Pugalendhi pointed out that one of the victims had stated in her complaint that the petitioner continuously harassed her since 2006 and thus, the complaint is not barred by limitation. He also observed that the petitioner's apprehensions regarding the inquiry officer were unwarranted.
