SC acquits Jayalalithaa in Tansi case

The Supreme Court acquitted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa of corruption charges related to the state's Small Industries Corporation Ltd (Tansi) but asked her to atone for violation of the code of conduct.

The judgement, delivered by a Bench comprising Justice Rajendra Babu and Justice PV Reddi after more than one year of delay, was high on moral content. "None of the offences charged against the accused are established. There is no ground to interfere with the high court's order," it said.

Although the Madras High Court had acquitted her, the trial court had convicted her. The charge against Jayalalithaa and Sasikalaa was that Jaya Publications and Sasi Enterprises (in which the two were partners) had purchased the Tansi land at cheap rates in 1992.

This had resulted in a loss of Rs 2.76 crore to the state exchequer. The government had banned ministers from buying government property, but the court found nothing to link the accused.

The judgement said "We are sure that if the officers are aware of the chief minister's interest in purchasing properties, the bureaucracy will be over enthusiastic to see that the sale goes smoothly and at a price desired by the chief minister." The Supreme Court also acquitted Sasikalaa and 3 other officials.

Justice Babu who wrote the judgement, stated that a crime should be established by concrete evidence, which was not available in this case. However, her action appeared to oppose the spirit of the code of conduct. The judges said that certain aspects did worry their conscience.

In a long passage about uprightness in public life, the judge said that "good ethical behaviour is the hallmark of a good administration and people in public life must perform their duties in a spirit of public service, rather than by assuming power to indulge in callous cupidity."