Page 4 - Madras High Court

Madras HC rejects bail plea of TN Minister Balaji in money laundering case

The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail petition of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. Justice G Jayachandran dismissed the bail petition of Senthil Balaji. The judge observed that since the brother of the petitioner was absconding and the petitioner was holding the post of a Minister without portfolio, he may likely tamper with witnesses. Balaji was arrested on June 14 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Transport Minister during the earlier AIADMK regime.

Petition against me because of ideological differences: Udhayanidhi to HC

A plea against his holding of public office in the light of his alleged anti-Sanatana Dharma remarks was due to ideological differences, with the petitioner being a Hindu right wing outfit, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has told the Madras High Court. Senior counsel P Wilson, representing Udhayanidhi, also said Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to practice and propagate religion, also "gives the right to people to practice and propagate atheism." Article 25 read with Article 19(1)(A) (freedom of expression) clearly protects the Minister's speech, Wilson submitted before Justice Anita Sumanth on Monday. Right wing outfit Hindu Munnani had filed a quo warranto, challenging Udhayanidhi's holding of public office in view of his alleged remarks against Sanatana Dharma at an event last month. Wilson further submitted that the petitioners have filed this case because DMK is antithetical to their ideology and stands for Dravidian ideology an

MCX gets Sebi approval to launch new commodity derivatives platform

MCX had initially intended to introduce the CDP on October 3. However, they have not revealed the new launch date yet

SC/ST, OBC quota would not apply to minority institutions: Madras HC

The Madras High Court has held that the concept of communal reservation or reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes of citizens would not apply to minority institutions. The first bench comprising Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice P D Audikesavalu gave the ruling while partly allowing an appeal and a petition from Justice Basheer Ahmed Syed College for Women (Autonomous) in the city, assailing a November 2021 order, rejecting the extension of religious minority status to the college. The college also sought a direction to issue the Permanent Religious Minority status certificate. Though reservation was made applicable to the socially and educationally Backward Classes of citizens, the SCs and the STs for admission, from the educational institutions, the minority educational institutions were consciously excluded from the operation of Article 15(5) of the Constitution of India, the bench said. It noted that Article 15(5) of the Constitut

SC collegium recommends 5 additional permanent judges for Madras HC

The Supreme collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Thursday recommended the names of five additional judges for appointment as permanent judges of the Madras High Court. The collegium, which also comprises Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, met today. The collegium's decision was uploaded on the apex court's website later in the day. The five additional judges whose names have been recommended are --Justices A A Nakkiran, Nidumolu Mala, S Sounthar, Sunder Mohan, and Kabali Kumaresh Babu. On June 20, 2023, the collegium of the Madras High Court had unanimously recommended their appointment as permanent judges of that high court. The chief minister and the governor of Tamil Nadu have concurred in the above recommendation, the apex court collegium said in a statement. "In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, we have consulted a judge of the Supreme Court conversant with the functioning of the Madras High Court with a view to ascertain the ..

Madras Bar Association passes resolution against renaming of IPC, CrPC, IEA

While introducing the bills, Home Minister Amit Shah said the soul of these three new laws will be to protect all the rights given by the Constitution to the citizens

Madras HC temporarily restrains Google from delisting apps of startups

Order will apply if firms pay 4% of gross revenue of downloads from Play Store and share data for it with Google

SC dismisses plea of Senthil Balaji against HC order allowing ED custody

A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh while dismissing the plea of Balaji allowed his custodial interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate in cash for a job scam

SC stays HC order that declared MP Ravindhranath's election invalid

The Supreme Court has stayed a Madras High Court order that declared as "null and void" the 2019 election of expelled AIADMK member P Ravindhranath from Tamil Nadu's Theni parliamentary constituency. A bench of justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta admitted the appeal filed by Ravindhranath against the high court order for hearing and issued notice to P Milany, who filed the petition challenging his election from the Theni constituency. "Meanwhile, operation of the impugned judgment and order dated July 6, 2023, passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras, shall remain stayed. Resultantly, the appellant (P Ravindhranath) shall be allowed to continue as a Member of Parliament of the 17th Lok Sabha for all intents and purposes till further orders," the bench said in an order passed on Friday. Ravindhranath is the son of deposed AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam. Milany alleged before the high court that Ravindhranath suppressed various materials

HC directs NLC to pay Rs 40,000 per acre as compensation to farmers in TN

The Madras High Court on Wednesday fixed a sum of Rs 40,000 per acre towards damage caused to the standing crops on account of Paravanar Canal Diversion activities carried out by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) in Cuddalore district. The court also directed the affected farmers to approach the authorities, who in turn, shall pay the compensation amount on or before August 6, 2023. Justice S M Subramaniam passed the interim order and posted to August 7, further hearing of the petition filed by Murugan, seeking to restrain the authorities from interfering and disturbing the peaceful possession till harvest of the paddy grown in the agriculture field of the petitioner. The judge said there was no dispute on the legal position that on the completion of the process of acquisition proceedings, the land absolutely vests with the government and thereafter the erstwhile owners of the land have no right to enter into the property. However, in the present case, cultivation is going on f

Madras High Court directs police to take action on old age home issue

The Madras high court has directed the police to immediately take action against persons who are causing disturbance in running an old age home in the city. Disposing of a petition filed by M/s Athulya Assisted Living Pvt.Ltd, Justice N Anand Venkatesh in his recent order said if required, protection shall also be given to the petitioner to ensure that no one interferes with the running of the Old Age Home. The direction was given to the Inspector of Police, Pallavaram Police Station. The petitioner submitted he was running the home and was providing health care services for the elderly people. He had obtained a necessary license in this regard. Senior Counsel Abudu Kumar, appearing for the petitioner submitted that persons in and around the place were causing threat to the petitioner and were bent upon causing problems following which he filed a police complaint recently. Though FIR was registered the threat perspective continues and hence, the petitioner approached the court, h

TN minister Balaji's plea in money laundering case to be heard on Friday

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday the pleas of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji and his wife Megala challenging the July 14 order of the Madras High Court by which it upheld his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the minister and his spouse, that the issue would become infructuous if not heard urgently. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the anti-money laundering probe agency, opposed the submissions of Sibal seeking urgent hearing, saying wrong facts have been narrated and the Chief Justice of the High Court is yet to refer the matter to a division bench for further proceedings. If the bench seeks to list it tomorrow then I have no problem, the law officer said. We will list if for hearing, the bench said. The minister and his wife have filed two separate .

TN Minister Senthil Balaji's ED arrest, judicial custody legal: Madras HC

The Madras High Court on Friday held legal the Enforcement Directorate's arrest of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji and subsequent judicial custody granted by a lower court. Justice C V Karthikeyan, the third judge to hear the matter, following a Division Bench's split verdict on a plea related to the Minister's arrest, held legal the arrest and custody. A Division Bench comprising Justices Nisha Banu and D Bharatha Chakravarthy had pronounced a split verdict on the Habeas Corpus petition filed by Megala, wife of Senthil Balaji. Justice Nisha Banu had held that the ED had no power to seek custody and said the HCP was maintainable. Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy, however, differed. The ED arrested Senthil Balaji last month in the cash-for-jobs scam and he continues to be a Minister without portfolio.

HC says 2019 LS election of expelled AIADMK member Ravindhranath invalid

The Madras High Court on Thursday declared invalid the 2019 election of expelled AIADMK member O P Ravindhranath from Tamil Nadu's Theni constituency. Ravindhranath is the son of deposed AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Justice SS Sundar also declared the seat vacant. However, on a request made by the counsel for Ravindhranath, the judge suspended the operation of the order for a month to enable him to file an appeal before the Supreme Court. The ruling came on a petition filed by a voter from Theni constituency named P Milani. According to advocate V Arun, counsel for Milani, the petitioner contended that Ravindhranath while filing his nomination for the election had suppressed various materials including the particulars of his movable and immovable assets and liabilities, and those of his family members. The suppression of facts had materially affected the election, the lawyer said. Hence Milani filed the present election petition. Arun also said on beha

Companies move Madras HC seeking relief against Google's payment policy

The companies join the likes of Bharat Matrimony and Shaadi.com, which have already approached the high court challenging Google's billing policies

HC gives split verdict in Senthil case, matter to be referred to 3rd judge

The Madras high court on Tuesday delivered a split verdict in the case relating to the alleged illegal custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last month under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A division bench comprising Justices J Nisha Banu and D Bharatha Chakravarthy gave the split verdict and directed the Registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice for referring it to a third judge. While Justice Nisha Banu allowed the Habeas Corpus Petition, (HCP) filed by Megala, the wife of Balaji, Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy dismissed it. Holding that the HCP was maintainable, Justice Nisha Banu directed the police to set Balaji at liberty forthwith. Disagreeing with the judgment of Justice Nisha Banu, Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy in his order framed four questions and answered the same. The judge said the HCP was not maintainable. The petitioner has not made out any case to hold that the remand was no

Madras High Court serves notice to Sebi official, CVC on Colo case

CFMA had filed a complaint with CVC seeking an inquiry against Mohanty for his misdeeds during his tenure as a public servant with Sebi

SC refuses to stay HC order allowing Balaji to be shifted to pvt hospital

In a relief to arrested Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, the Supreme Court Wednesday refused to stay a Madras High Court order allowing to shift him to a private hospital for treatment notwithstanding fervent request by the Enforcement Directorate. The Enforcement Directorate, which arrested Balaji in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the state's transport department, had moved the apex court against the Madras High Court order. Balaji, 47, underwent a coronary bypass surgery at a private hospital in Chennai on Wednesday and was said to be doing fine. A vacation bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice M M Sundresh noted a habeas corpus petition filed by Balaji's wife against his "illegal" arrest is still pending in the high court and asked the ED to approach it. The top court noted the high court is yet to pronounce its final judgement on the maintainability of the habeas corpus petition and on the ED's request for exclusion of the period of Balaji's stay in ..

Madras HC allows shifting Senthil Balaji to pvt hospital for Bypass surgery

The Madras High Court on Thursday allowed the shifting of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, arrested by the ED and since under medical treatment at a city government hospital, to a private facility. A division bench of the HC, which was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Balaji's wife, gave the interim order. It issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the main plea of illegal arrest of Balaji and posted the matter to June 22. The court said Balaji will continue to remain in judicial custody and allowed the ED to have its own team of doctors also to examine the minister.

Pricol gets relief from Madras High Court in tussle with Minda Corp

Auto components maker Pricol Ltd on Thursday said it has moved the Madras High Court challenging the validity of the application of rival Minda Corporation to the Competition Commission of India to acquire a 24.5 per cent stake in it. Minda Corporation had earlier this month decided to approach the CCI to increase its stake in Pricol to up to 24.5 per cent, following the acquisition of a 15.7 per cent stake by purchasing over 1.91 crore shares of the latter from the open market on February 17, 2023. In a regulatory filing, Pricol said it has filed a writ petition before the Madras High Court in connection with Minda Corporation Ltd's (Minda's) application to the CCI. The petitions challenged the validity of the application of Minda to the CCI, for making investment in equity shares of Pricol Ltd up to 24.5 per cent of total equity shares, it added. The Division Bench of the High Court on May 24, 2023 "admitted the writ petition and restrained by way of an interim order, the taking