The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Court orders protection to inquiry officer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Court orders protection to inquiry officer

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI : The Madras High Court has ordered adequate police protection and secretarial assistance to the district judge, who is probing the allegations of atrocities against Fisheries Minister K.P.P. Swamy and his kin, at KVK Kuppam near Tiruvottriyur.

Passing orders on a PIL on October 17, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A. P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru had appointed District Judge and High Court Registrar (Vigilance) R. Mala as inquiry officer to go into the complaints filed by the petitioner K. Anjappan.

Ms. Mala had submitted a list of recommendations in which she had stated that the III Additional Sessions Court on the High Court premises should be the venue of inquiry and the summons to witnesses should be in the vernacular language. The District Collector shall be directed to depute an official for secretarial assistance to the committee, whereas an Assistant Commissioner of Police-level official shall coordinate security.

She had said her spot inspection of the KVK Kuppam should be videographed and Rs. 2.5 lakh shall be allocated for the purpose of witness batta. The inquiry shall be publicised through media as well as tom-tom, she had said.

Acceding to the recommendations, the First Bench had granted her two months' time to submit a report.

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