HC stays SC/ST Commission order against police officer

Chennai, Dec. 19 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Monday stayed a recent order of the TN State SC/ST Commission that imposed a fine of Rs 500 on the Superintendent of Police (SP) attached to Tirunelveli, and issued a bailable warrant to arrest and produce him before the Commission on December 28.

Justice G Chandrasekaran granted the injunction while passing interim orders on a criminal original petition from P Saravanan, the Tirunelveli SP.

According to Saravanan, there was a dispute between M Paramanandham, belonging to SC community, in respect of his land in Sivanthipatti. Alleging that Kuppusamy Chettiyar of Coimbatore had encroached upon his land and abused him by mentioning his caste, Paramanandhan straight away moved the SC/ST Commission in 2004.

The Commission took cognizance of the complaint in June this year and directed Saravanan to appear before it on two occasions. As the SP allegedly did not appear with a report on the probe made into the issue, the Commission on December 2 this year imposed a fine of Rs 500 on him and directed him to appear before it on December 28, through a `press release’ order.

Aggrieved, Saravanan moved the High Court with the present petition. He submitted that Paramanandham straight away moved the Commission without lodging a complaint with the jurisdictional police. He had tendered an unconditional apology for his inability to appear before the Commission on earlier occasions and deputed his subordinate (DSP) to appear before it. Without considering the same, the Commission issued the order in the format of a press release, Saravanan contended.