CHENNAI: Seeking "complete justice" to the victims in the Melavalavu murder case, a group of human rights activists has urged the Tamil Nadu Government to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the acquittal of 23 persons.

On June 30, 1997, six Dalits, including the newly elected president of the Melavalavu panchayat near Madurai, were hacked to death. The case was transferred to Salem district for a fair trial. The Special Court there found 17 persons guilty of conspiracy and murder in 2001 and awarded them life imprisonment. Twenty-three others were acquitted.

While the convicted persons moved the High Court, the Government did not challenge the acquittal of 23 persons, on the ground that there were no sufficient grounds for appeal. In April 2006, a Division Bench of Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar not only upheld the life imprisonment awarded to 17 persons, but observed, "Unfortunately, the State has not preferred appeal against the acquittal of the remaining accused... In the absence of appeal by the State, and taking note of the fact that the unfortunate incident had occurred as early as on June 30, 1997 and now nearly nine full years have lapsed, we are not inclined to remit the matter to the trial court for retrial... "

The 17 convicted persons have now moved the Supreme Court, which on April 19, 2006 ordered notices to the State Government.

Against this backdrop, a group of advocates led by P. Rathinam has requested the Tamil Nadu Government to prefer an SLP in the apex court and engage the services of an eminent senior advocate. In a representation to the Chief Minister and the Home Secretary, the signatories said the Government must prefer an SLP.

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