Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010655940400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Incident on court premises: notice issued to 64 persons

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Monday ordered issue of notice to 64 persons asking for an explanation as to why contempt notice should not be issued against them in connection with the incident on the court premises at Puducherry on December 19.

A specially constituted Division Bench, comprising Justices Prabha Sridevan and K.Chandru, said the territorial Inspector-General of Police should also issue notice to the 64 persons.

The High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident, which followed the arrest of a sub-inspector and an advocate by the CBI in a bribery case. The Bench had directed the Chief Secretary, Puducherry and other senior officials to file reports and posted the matter for Monday.

When the matter came up, the Special Public Prosecutor, Puducherry, T.Murugesan, submitted the reports filed by the Chief Secretary, Puducherry Collector, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and two Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs). He said 64 persons had been identified as involved.

In her affidavit, Chief Secretary Naini Jayaseelan said that on hearing about the incident she rushed to the court complex. She directed the IGP and SSPs to deal with the agitating police personnel and others firmly and ensure that the crowd was dispersed from the court complex immediately.