Latest news with #S.M.Subramaniam
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC dismisses plea to appoint panel of Agama experts to finalise temple renovation works
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition that sought a direction to appoint a committee of Agama experts to finalise renovation and repair works at Subramaniya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete observed that the State government had already appointed an expert committee and a G.O. had been issued in this regard. If the petitioner was of the opinion that any customs or practices were being violated, he was at liberty to approach the competent authorities under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, the court observed and dismissed the petition filed by B. Ramkumar Adityan of Tiruchendur.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Frequent court boycotts by lawyers for flimsy reasons to be deprecated: Madras HC
Lawyers are professionals and are bound to protect the interest of litigants and the majesty of courts. Boycotting courts frequently for flimsy reasons or based on certain individual grievances of any lawyer at no circumstances can be appreciated, but it is to be deprecated, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has observed. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete observed that the Supreme Court had repeatedly reiterated that lawyers could not indulge in boycotting the courts for flimsy reasons and in such an event, strong actions were directed to be initiated by the competent authorities. That apart, boycotts might not be a proper solution. Only in the event of any common cause, the lawyers had to approach the Bar Council or the competent authorities to redress their grievances. Contrarily, they were not expected to resort to boycotts unnecessarily, thereby obstructing the court proceedings, the court observed. Lawyers were officers of the court. They were the stakeholders in the justice delivery system. Their absence would affect court proceedings. The courts would not be in a position to hear and dispose of cases in the absence of the lawyers. Their assistance to the court was of paramount importance in the justice delivery system, the Bench observed. The court was hearing a petition filed by R. Jim who complained that for flimsy reasons boycotts were announced by the Tirunelveli Bar Association which caused inconvenience to the public and some lawyers who were willing to appear before the courts. The petitioner sought a direction to the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the association office-bearers. The court observed that in the absence of a specific complaint regarding misconduct or illegality committed by the office-bearers, the Bar Council might not be in a position to initiate appropriate action. In the event of receiving a specific complaint from the petitioner against the office-bearers of the Bar Association or any practising lawyers, the Bar Council should initiate appropriate actions, as contemplated under the Advocates Act, 1961, and the Rules, including the Bar Council of India Rules, the court directed.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Plea in High Court to declare shipwreck a State disaster; Bench orders notice
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered notice to the Union and Tamil Nadu governments and sought a report on a public interest litigation petition that sought the removal of plastic pellets and other hazardous materials which washed ashore along the Kanniyakumari coast from the Liberian container ship MSC Elsa 3 that sank off the Kochi coast on May 25. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete sought the response of the authorities to the joint petition filed by four CPI (ML) Liberation functionaries — S.M. Anthony Muthu, R. Justin Sundar, R. Suseela, and C. Carmel Lourdhu Boi — of Kanniyakumari district. The petitioners said the ship sank in the Arabian Sea with 643 containers, and so far 54 containers had washed ashore along the Kerala and Kanniyakumari coasts. The containers are said to have calcium carbonate and plastic pellets. However, there had been no official statement yet on the contents. The plastic pellets that washed ashore along the Kanniyakumari coast were a dangerous pollutant and their breaking down into nano-plastics would enter the food chain of the marine species. Fish is a staple food in Kanniyakumari. The plastic pellets in the sea could cause a prolonged and irreversible damage to the food chain, they said. The plastic pellets were getting deposited on the seashore and polluting the environment. The containers drifting in the sea posed a threat to the fisherfolk who were advised not to venture into the sea. Given the alarming situation, the Kerala government had declared the shipwreck a State disaster, and was providing relief to the fisherfolk, they said. The plastic pellets and other hazardous materials should be removed from the sea on a war footing, the petitioners said. They also sought a direction to the authorities to disclose the contents of the containers, declare the shipwreck a State disaster, and provide relief to the affected fisherfolk. The court posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
School Education Dept. told to ensure forming of Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the School Education Department to ensure constitution of Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees in schools across Tamil Nadu. The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by G. Shabna of Theni district, who sought a direction to the department to ensure constitution of the Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees in government schools, create awareness of the committees among the students and ensure teaching and non-teaching staff complete an annual mandatory orientation programme on the POCSO Act. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that a G.O. was issued by the School Education Department in 2021 providing guidelines to protect and safeguard the students from sexual harassment. The Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees are to be constituted to create awareness among the students. The State submitted that in Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Kallakurichi, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Mayiladuthurai, Theni, Tiruppatur, Tiruppur and Sivaganga districts, 11,820 government schools had reconstituted the committees. In 2023-24, these schools conducted 42,126 meetings and in 2024-25, 42,194 meetings were conducted. Annual orientation training on the POCSO Act awareness to the teachers and the staff members was conducted in 11,820 government schools in 2023-24, in which 68,245 teachers and 46,281 staff members participated. A total of 70,105 teachers and 49,974 staff members were given training in 2024-25, the State submitted and sought time to compile the data for the remaining districts. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete observed that the Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees had been constituted in several areas, but yet to be constituted in some areas across the State. The court directed the authorities to collect the data in respect of the districts where the committees had not been constituted and initiate action to constitute them as per the G.O. in eight weeks. It posted the matter for reporting compliance to August 5.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
HC directs Madurai Corporation to demolish temple constructed unauthorisedly on OSR land
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed Madurai Corporation to demolish a temple constructed unauthorisedly on an Open Space Reservation (OSR) land in Madurai. The court was hearing the petition filed by R. Mayilsamy of Madurai who had sought a direction to the authorities to remove the unauthorised construction under the provisions of Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act. The petitioner complained that a temple was constructed illegally by some residents of an apartment complex on the OSR land in New Vilangudi. A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete observed that OSR land cannot be allowed to be encroached upon even by the residents of the apartment complex. The OSR lands are to be maintained in the manner contemplated under the Act and the Rules in force. The court observed that it is clear that the temple had been constructed without permission and was unauthorised. The OSR land had been utilised for construction of a temple in violation of the Act and the Rules. The Supreme Court and the High Courts have time and again reiterated that OSR lands cannot be encroached upon by the resident or any other person. It is to be maintained by the authorities in the manner contemplated under the Act and the Rules, the court observed. Since the temple has been constructed unauthorisedly in the OSR land of the apartment complex and in violation of the Rules, the structure has to be demolished and the OSR land is to be maintained scrupulously in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Rules. The court directed Madurai Corporation to demolish the unauthorised construction and restore the land to its original position as per the approved building plan in four weeks. The matter was posted for reporting compliance on July 2.
