Page 2 - Madras High Court

Madras HC Bench recuses itself from hearing TASMAC plea against ED searches

A division bench comprising Justices M S Ramesh and N Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court on Tuesday recused itself from hearing the petitions filed by TASMAC and the Tamil Nadu government against the recent ED searches on the state-run liquor retailer. When the petitions filed by TASMAC and the state government came up for hearing, the bench said it recused itself from hearing the case, but did not specify any reasons. The bench had on March 20 directed the Enforcement Directorate, which conducted raids on the premises of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) earlier this month, to produce copies of FIR and Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) along with any other material which it relied upon against TASMAC. Orally directing the ED not to proceed further pursuant to its raids at the TASMAC headquarters in the city, the bench posted to March 25, further hearing of the petitions filed by the liquor retailer and the state government against the searches conducted by

TASMAC issue: HC directs ED not to proceed further against liquor retailer

The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to proceed further pursuant to its searches at state-run liquor retailer TASMAC's headquarters in the city recently. While giving an oral direction to ED in this connection, the HC also directed the central agency to produce copies of FIR and Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) along with any other materials which it relied upon against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation. After conducting searches at TASMAC earlier this month, ED had recently claimed irregularities to the tune of about Rs 1000 crore. A division bench comprising Justices M S Ramesh and N Senthilkumar posted to March 25, further hearing of the petitions filed by TASMAC and the Tamil Nadu government against the searches conducted by ED. In its petition, TASMAC sought a direction to the ED not to harass its employees under the guise of investigation. It also sought a declaration that the ED's action of investigating the offe

Senior citizens can cancel gift deed if children fail to take care: HC

Senior Citizens can cancel the gift or settle deeds executed in favour of their children or close relatives if they failed to take care of them, even if it was not explicitly mentioned in the conditions imposed in the deeds, the Madras High Court has ruled. A division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and K Rajasekar dismissed an appeal filed by S Mala, daughter-in-law of deceased S Nagalakshmi. Originally, Nagalakshmi executed a settlement deed in favour of her son Kesavan with a fond hope that he and her daughter-in-law will take care of her till her lifetime. But he failed to take care of her. Her daughter-in-law also neglected her after her son died. Therefore, she approached the RDO, Nagapattinam. After recording her statement that she executed the deed out of love and affection and for the future of her son, and after considering the statements of Mala, the RDO cancelled the settlement deed. Challenging this, Mala filed a petition and it was dismissed. Hence, she filed

HC directs Ananda Vikatan to remove offending caricature depicting PM Modi

The Madras High Court has directed Ananda Vikatan Productions Private Limited to remove the caricature depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi shackled in chains during a meeting with United States President Donald Trump and inform the same to the union government. On receipt of the information, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shall unblock the Ananda Vikatan website, said Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy. The judge passed the interim order on Thursday on a petition filed by Ananda Vikatan Productions Private Limited and Ananda Vikatan Publishers Private Limited, challenging an order of the I&B Ministry, dated February 25, 2025, blocking the website and sought a consequential direction to the Ministry to restore public access to the website. When the case came up for hearing, senior counsel Vijay Narayan, appearing for Ananda Vikatan submitted that the caricature depicting the leaders will not affect the integrity and sovereignty of India. It was freedom of ...

Online gaming companies move Madras HC against state's gaming regulations

Online gaming companies on Wednesday approached the Madras High Court to declare certain provisions of the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (Real Money Games) Regulations, 2025 as unconstitutional. A division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and K Rajasekar before whom the petitions filed by Head Digital Works Private Limited, New Delhi, which is engaged in the business of developing and offering online games of skill in India and two other companies came up for hearing, adjourned it by two weeks to enable the central and state governments to file counter affidavits. The companies challenged Regulation 4 (iii) (KYC verification shall be mandatory for the initial login with Aadhar to be authenticated by 2nd layer verification of One Time Password (OTP) sent to the phone number linked with Aadhar number) and Regulation 4 (viii) (Blank hours shall be implemented for the real money games from 12 midnight to 5 a.m. (based on Indian Standard Time). No login of the games shall b

Madras High Court rules in favour of 12% GST for railway contracts

The case involved STS-KEC, a joint venture between Stroytechservice LLC (Russia) and KEC International Limited, which was awarded a contract for railway infrastructure projects

SC directives mandatory while granting building plan permission: Madras HC

The Madras High Court has observed that the directives issued by the Supreme Court over granting building planning permission and demolition of unauthorized constructions have become the law of the land and that they have to be followed by the agencies concerned. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Greater Chennai Corporation and other local bodies have to follow the directives under the provisions of the various statutes for granting building plan permission proceedings. The court said no unauthorized construction shall be allowed to remain and the authorities were bound to initiate appropriate action on receipt of information or complaint from any person. Since the law has been declared by the Supreme Court, no leniency or misplaced sympathy can be shown by the courts merely on the ground that the person violated has invested some amount. The builders and contractors were emboldened to commit such illegalities at the cost of the people with the fond hope .

Fear of surveillance assault on press: Madras HC on journalists' harassment

Justice Ilanthiraiyan of Madras HC cited the Press Council Act, noting that the source of information reported by journalists is protected under Sec 15(2), which safeguards privileged communication

Tafe gets Madras HC relief in war with AGCO over Ferguson brand ownership

According to a Tafe statement, this order will ensure uninterrupted exclusive use of the Massey Ferguson brand in India by the Chennai-based major until the disposal of the suit

Anna University sexual assault case: SIT probe and FIR leak spark outrage

The Anna University sexual assault case has sparked protests and a SIT probe, with Madras HC directing Rs 25 lakh compensation for the survivor, while an FIR leak raises privacy concerns

Anna University case: Madras HC constitutes SIT comprising women officers

Judges also directed the state government to initiate necessary action, if necessary, against the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police for having conducted the press conference and revealed details

SC asks TN to list steps for appointment of trustee committee for temples

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to spell out its proposed actions over the appointment of the "Arangavalar Committee" (trustee committee) for all Hindu temples in the state. "File an affidavit as to what you (state government) propose to do, a bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar asked the Tamil Nadu government counsel. The direction came after the state government informed the apex court that it had sought applications for appointment of trustee committees from 31,000 temples and such panels were appointed in over 7,500 temples only as many were yet to respond. The bench granted four weeks' time to the state government to file the affidavit and listed the plea of petitioner "Hindu Dharma Parishad" in February, 2025. The counsel for the state government said a very few people came up for appointment in the temples' trust despite the government issuing advertisements in this regard. The counsel for the petitioner body claimed th

Ensure release of prisoners languishing unnecessarily in jails: Madras HC

The Madras High Court has asked its Registrar General to ensure that the process for release of prisoners languishing unnecessarily in jails was accelerated by completing the formalities. Filing of necessary petitions through the Legal Aid Services before the competent court should also be ensured. A division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and M Jyothiraman passed the order on Monday on proceedings initiated by it. In its order, the bench said the Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that as per the prison department, 153 remand prisoners were still languishing in various prisons across Tamil Nadu even after grant of bail. As many as 22 convict prisoners were also in prison after suspension of sentence by the appellate courts. The Additional public prosecutor also submitted that there was delay in receiving the bail orders from the District courts. He submitted that as far as the High Court was concerned, order copies were received immediately, the bench added. The b

SC stays revival of corruption case against former TN CM Panneerselvam

In a relief to former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed an order of the Madras High Court restoring a disproportionate assets (DA) case against him and his family members. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti issued notice to the Tamil Nadu police and others on a plea filed by Panneerselvam. "In the present matter concerned, the challenge is to the impugned order of single judge of the High Court judicature at Madras exercising powers of suo motu criminal revision, under Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. Issue notice," the bench directed. In the meantime, the operation of the judgment was stayed by the top court. The high court, on October 29, set aside a trial court order allowing the prosecution to withdraw the DA case against Panneerselvam and others while discharging the accused. The high court set aside the order of the chief judicial magistrate/special judge, Sivaganga, passed on December 3, .

TAFE, AGCO claim legal relief from Madras HC in tractor brand dispute

Court orders status, say two companies in long-running legal battle over ownership and use of Massey Ferguson

Grant exemption to disabled person on Tamil language requirement: Madras HC

The Madras High Court has observed that the barriers faced by persons with disabilities go beyond just physical accessibility issues, extending to deep rooted prejudice, stereotypes and misconcepts that pervaded many aspects of the society. Justice N Anand Venkatesh made the observation in a recent order while allowing a petition from B Vidyasagar, Assistant Engineer, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, a disabled person, seeking a direction to the authorities not to insist him to produce the certificate of passing the Tamil Language Test in the light of a G.O dated May 23, 2022 and to grant pending increments and promotion. The judge said from education and employment to health care and public services, persons with disabilities often face significant obstinance that hinder their full participation and inclusion. In view of the same, a Constitutional Court must develop an understanding of the societal, attitudinal, cultural, institutional, structural, legal and environmental barriers that ...

TAFE gets interim relief in dispute over Massey Ferguson tractor brand

Chennai-based company has filed case against US-based subsidiary of AGCO

Strike over: Environment must be created for early end to labour disputes

To build a global manufacturing base, which is desirable, India will need to build large-scale production facilities

Madras HC orders FSSAI to grant time to AR Dairy in Tirupati laddu case

Food safety regulator, FSSAI, to reissue notice as controversy over Tirupati laddus' ghee supply continues

SC halts probe into Sadhguru's Isha Foundation, seeks police report

The Supreme Court's bench is set to meet with two women, allegedly detained and brainwashed by the foundation, before issuing an interim order