Date:01/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120161371000.htm

Tamil Nadu

“Dispose of discharge application in three weeks”

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Economic Offences-I, Egmore, to dispose of positively in three weeks a discharge application filed by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in a case under the Wealth Tax Act for the assessment year 1993-94.

Passing orders on a petition filed by Ms. Jayalalithaa, Justice K. Mohanram said the petitioner and the respondent, Assistant Commissioner of Wealth Tax, Central Circle II (2), Chennai, should cooperate with the court in disposing of the discharge petition within the stipulated time without seeking any adjournment. Till the disposal of the discharge petition, examination of witnesses in the case may be deferred. The Judge also made it clear that he had not expressed any opinion about the merits of the case.

In her petition, Ms. Jayalalithaa said she filed an application in the court of the Additional CMM on several legal grounds seeking discharge from the case. When the discharge petition, filed in 2001, was pending, the complainant insisted on the examination of witnesses whereas the petitioner submitted that there could not be any examination as the discharge application was still pending. The petitioner sought a direction to the trial court to take up the discharge application before examining the witnesses.