Despite court orders, ‘kangaroo courts’ or instances of high-handed mediation by self-appointed forums seem to continue even in the city.
The Madras High Court has ordered notice to the authorities, including Chennai Police Commissioner, on writ petitions by three persons seeking a direction to the police to register their complaints and take action against the Tiruvottiyur Kuppam Grama Sabha for holding ‘kangaroo courts’. Justice K.K.Sasidharan ordered that the notice would be returnable by August 1. C. Ezhumalai and K. Desiyamani submitted they had sought a clarification on an issue concerning the death of a person. For this, the petitioners alleged, the office-bearers shouted at them and made them fall at their feet. Even after they apologised, a resolution was passed imposing a fine of Rs.20,000 and they were excommunicated.
In his petition, M. Chinnapillai said his brother-in-law Sudhakar questioned the validity of their diktat. He was made to stand in the middle of the slum and prostrate before the grama sabha. A fine of Rs.5,000 was imposed on him and he was ex-communicated. The petitioners said the authorities should strictly implement an earlier court order on ‘kangaroo courts’ and put down this practice.
