Tamil Nadu

Affidavit withdrawn

CHENNAI: The government on Tuesday said it was withdrawing an affidavit filed before the High Court by a police officer, who has been suspended in connection with the incidents at the Dr.Ambedkar Government Law College here on November 12.

When the matter came up before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.K.Ganguly and Justice F.M.Ibrahim Kalifulla, counsel for petitioner Shriram Panchu said that an affidavit had been filed on behalf of the police and the same had been affirmed by G. Narayanamurthy, Assistant Commissioner of police, High Court range, who was now under suspension. In his oral observation faulting the government for this, Mr. Justice Ganguly wanted to know as to how a suspended police officer could file an affidavit on behalf of police.

In the interim order, the Bench said when the court asked the Government Pleader as to why the person who had been suspended had filed an affidavit, the GP had submitted that he was withdrawing the affidavit. An affidavit by the police Commissioner was being prepared and would be filed on November 20. The Bench said that in this matter, the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr.Ambedkar Law University here and the Principal of Law College had been impleaded. On the prayer of the parties, the Director of Legal Studies here was also being impleaded as a respondent by the court. Rama Kannan, counsel, was directed to take notice on behalf of the university. The Bench directed the respondents to file their counter by November 20.

Government Pleader Raja Kalifullah handed over to the court an order dated November 14 passed by the Secretary, Public, Law and Order-F department, about the appointment of Justice P.Shanmugham, a retired High Court Judge, to inquire into the matter relating to the incidents of violence that occurred in the law college here. The Bench said the said communication be part of court records. The court posted the matter for November 20.

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