Not doubting capability of Justice Raghupathy: HC

The Madras High Court today observed that it does not doubt the capability or performance of Justice Raghupathy who was appointed as the One Man Commission of Inquiry to go into the collapse of a multi-storied building here but only opined that it was a difficult task as he was already burdened with other works.
As per the orders of the High Court, State Advocate General A L Somayaji submitted the status report on the June 28 collapse that left 61 persons dead before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan.
Senior counsel P Wilson, appearing for DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, argued that the Commission submitted its report in a rushed manner on August 25 and the same day the charge sheet was also filed by police.

Citing a Supreme Court report judgment, he said normally first the report will be filed and then police will form an opinion and then file the charge sheet, but in this case both were filed the same day.
He further submitted that even before the AG was to submit the status report, the Commission rushed and submitted the report to government which amounted to judicial impropriety.
The Bench then observed that it does not doubt the capability or performance of Justice Raghupathy but only opined that it is a difficult task for him as he was already burdened with other works.

On August 4, the court, while directing the AG to file a status report on the collapse, wondered how it was possible for the One Man Commission of Inquiry appointed by the state government under Justice Raghupathy (retired High Court judge) to go into the matter when he was already continuing as President of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum.

Besides, he was also the head of another commission which has to go into the details of Act 14 (Goondas Act).
Senior Counsel P Wilson had submitted that there was need for CBI probe as government was only blaming the builder.

With regard to the direction of the Bench to submit a report on the disposal of cases in the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, the AG today submitted that the disposal was 90 per cent.
The Bench then adjourned the matter to October 13 for further hearing.