HC orders notice to TN govt

Madras High Court today ordered notice to Tamil Nadu government, after it took a suo motu petition of a letter by its judge on a news report on difficulties faced by general public in Tiruppur by money lenders, who collect exorbitant interest.
The First Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agrawal and Justice M Sathyanarayanan took a letter of Justice N Kirubakaran based on a news item published in a Tamil daily on September 23, as suo motu PIL.
It also issued notice to Tamil Nadu Home Secretary and Director General of Police returnable by October 22.
The news item had exposed the difficulties faced by general public in Tiruppur by money lenders, who collect exorbitant interests.

In his letter to Justice Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, who was the Acting Chief Justice then, Justice Kirubakaran said the news item gave details of the violent acts and offences committed by exorbitant interest charging group, which created fear in the minds of the general public.
Noting that the news item exposed a very dangerous social problem, the judge requested the Acting Chief Justice to treat the news item as suo motu PIL and to pass appropriate orders.
The Acting Chief Justice directed the High Court registry to treat it as a PIL and place it before the First Bench.
The Deputy Registrar (Writs) who filed a petition on the direction of ACJ, has prayed for a direction from the court to strictly implement the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act-2003 in letter and spirit and to furnish details of the problems including the number of cases filed under the above Act and the steps taken to control and prevent the menace.