The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Petitions against STF personnel withdrawn

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Petitions against STF personnel withdrawn

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, DEC. 20. Faced with the prospect of having to pay heavy costs, a public interest litigation petition, which sought to "criminally prosecute" the Special Task Force personnel involved in the killing of forest brigand Veerappan and his associates, was withdrawn by the petitioner today.

When the matter came up before the First Bench of the Madras High Court, the Chief Justice, Markandey Katju, sharing the dais with Justice N.V. Balasubramanian, pointed out that there were at least three alternative remedies available to the petitioner.

First, he can file a civil suit for compensation; second, he can prefer a first information report against the personnel involved in the alleged "fake encounter;" and thirdly, he can prefer a complaint before the jurisdictional magistrate for a suitable direction to the police under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

`Frivolous plea'

When the Bench asked about the petitioner's locus standi, counsel said he was a "public spirited person." To this, the Chief Justice said, "I am very suspicious of these public spirited persons and social workers." He then made it clear that the petition was a frivolous one and that the petitioner could press it further at the risk of attracting heavy costs. "Otherwise, this non-sense will not stop."

Sensing the court's mood, counsel for the petitioner, offered to withdraw it. Accordingly it was dismissed as withdrawn.

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