Tamil Nadu   

Goondaism by ‘katta panchayats’ continues: court

CHENNAI: Stating that goondaism by ‘katta panchayats’ is continuing in the State, the Madras High Court on Thursday said authorities should take effective steps to implement a Division Bench order.

Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar passed the order on a writ petition by A. Manoharan, seeking a direction to the Kancheepuram Collector, the Inspector of Police, Cheyyur, and the Superintendent of Police, Kancheepuram, to take steps to protect his life and liberty and that of his family by acting against ‘katta panchayatdars.’

He submitted that every fishing village selected some people, who functioned as extra-constitutional authority by conducting ‘kangaroo courts.’ In his Panaiyur Periyakuppam village, there was such a group, and the police did nothing to prevent its activities. He narrated how he and his family were put to hardship.

In July this year, a Division Bench had disposed of a case relating to the high-handedness of ‘katta panchayatdars.’

Mr. Justice Paul Vasanthakumar said from a perusal of the instructions by the government and the Director-General of Police and the directions of the Division Bench, it was clear that ‘katta panchayats’ were banned. The Chief Secretary had been directed to circulate a copy of the judgment to district magistrates and Superintendents of Police, with a warning that those violating it would be severely dealt with.

Yet, the Kancheepuram Superintendent of Police had admitted in his report, dated December 5, that in Panaiyur Periyakuppam, “village panchayat is being conducted by people selected among themselves every year, and they are enquiring into minor delinquencies and imposing fines.” The SP should file a report periodically on the action taken before the court Registry. The court directed the authorities to provide protection to the petitioner and his family.

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