SC asks CJ to decide on judge’s suo motu action against ministers in Tamil Nadu

The matter before the SC pertained to corruption cases against two TN ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thenarasu being revived suo motu by a single-judge bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh in 2023.

The bench, however, clarified that its “order should not be construed as making comments on the concerned judges hearing the suo motu matters”.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Madras High Court Chief Justice to decide who should hear the suo motu proceedings initiated by a single judge against the discharge of some Tamil Nadu ministers in corruption cases.

Hearing applications filed by some of the ministers against whom the proceedings were revived, a bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and P K Mishra ordered, “we deem it appropriate to say that the suo motu matters should be considered by the Honourable Chief Justice. He may either take the matter himself or to another judge as he may consider appropriate. Thereafter, the matter will proceed on merits.”

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The bench, however, clarified that its “order should not be construed as making comments on the concerned judges hearing the suo motu matters”.

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The matter before the SC pertained to corruption cases against two TN ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thenarasu being revived suo motu by a single-judge bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh in 2023.

Hearing their appeal against this, the SC had sought a report from the HC Registry.

Perusing the report, the bench said that it appeared that the single judge had asked the Registry to get the cases numbered whereas the appropriate way would have been to ask them to be numbered after permission from the HC Chief Justice who is the master of roster.

Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi appearing for the HC said that the CJ’s approval was secured as per applicable rules. Senior Advocate A M Singhvi appearing for the appellants said such orders could create havoc.

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