Principal District Judge W. Sathasivam inaugurated a Special Court for land grabbing cases here on Wednesday and suggested that cases registered under Sections 468, 471 and 420 of Indian Penal Code by the District Crime Branches (DCB) be transferred to the special cells, dealing with anti-land grabbing cases.
Addressing the inaugural function, he said after he assumed office here recently, he was coming across anticipatory bail applications of those facing charges under sections 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine, a forged document) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and these could be transferred to the special anti-land grabbing cell (provided they related to land transactions).
He would give a list of such cases to the SP for his perusal, he said and suggested that similar cases registered by the DCB in Sivaganga could also be referred to the special cell to avoid duplication of investigation and contradiction in filing charge sheets.
Stating that the special court here would try land grabbing cases registered both in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga Districts, he said as of now, the special cell in this district was investigating into 10 land grabbing cases. In Sivaganga, the special cell was investigating into 14 cases.
Introducing N. Veluchamy, who has been appointed by the Madras High court as the Judicial Officer for the special court, the Judge said the special court would help to speedily dispose of the cases and render justice to the poor people. Collector K. Nanthakumar pointing out that ‘delayed justice is denied justice,’ said the special court should speedily dispose of the cases and provide relief to the affected people of the two districts.
Speaking on the occasion, DIG (Ramnad Range) M Ramasubramani said the State had the legacy of rendering justice. History has it that Manuneedhi Cholan killed his son to provide justice to a cow and Shibi Chakravarti saved a dove by offering his own flesh. The constitution of special court and special cells to deal with land grabbing cases would serve as deterrence to the offenders.
SP N M Mylvahanan, who was SP, Anti-land grabbing (Headquarters), said the government had sanctioned 25 special courts to specially focus on land grabbing cases. These courts were empowered with civil and criminal powers to not only punish the offenders, but to restore the lands to the rightful owners.
A. Ravichandra Ramavanni, President of the Bar association, requested the Collector to provide space for establishing a consumer court, funds for which had already been sanctioned. Stating there is a move to shift the special courts for SC/STs (prevention of atrocities) Act and Prevention of Corruption Act cases to Sivaganga, he urged the Collector to take steps to allow the courts to continue to function from here.
Chief Judicial Magistrate J. Justin David, District Munsif P. Gowthaman, Judicial Magistrate Bharathi , Bar Association Secretary M Somusundaram, Public Prosecutor P. Navanathan, Government Pleader K. Haridoss, Special PP Ilango and former Special PP C Muniasamy were present in the function.
