:Recording Tamil Nadu government's statement that it has taken action against offenders who took the law into their hands after conviction of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in a wealth case, the Madras High Court today said criminal jurisprudence requires offenders to suffer consequences of their action as per the law of the land.
"Criminal jurisprudence requires that offenders must suffer the consequences of their action in accordance with the law of the land. Thus, it is necessary that these cases are taken to that logical conclusion," the first bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan said.
Petitioner S Jimraj Milton, an advocate, had sought a direction seeking to forbear the government from in any manner permitting agitations, demonstrations, bands, stopping of buses, closing of shops and disturbing public peace in Tamil Nadu and ensure people live peacefully without fear and threat as guaranteed under the Constitution.
The bench noted the steps taken by police that 7,404 persons had been arrested and action as per law was initiated in connection with affixing of provocative posters and putting up of banners and hoardings and that FIRs were registered from September 27, 2014 to October 7.
"No further orders are required except that this court considers it appropriate to monitor the issue and see that it is taken to its logical conclusion and it also serves as a deterrent for the future."
The report said that apart from arresting 7,404 persons for specific incidents, 180 cases had been registered and 238 persons arrested and at present normalcy has been restored.
The bench recorded Advocate General A L Somayaji's statement that investigation would be completed in all cases and the final report filed within a maximum period of eight weeks and then posted the case to February 24, 2015 for filing of compliance report.
On September 28, Jayalalithaa was convicted by a special court in Bangalore and sentenced to four years in jail and slapped with a Rs 100 crore fine in the judgement in an 18-year-old disproportionate wealth case.
She was released from jail in Bangalore on October 18 as per the Supreme Court order granting her bail in the case.
The bench today closed another petition by K Balu, an advocate, alleging announcement of closure of schools on October 7 by Federation of Association of private schools and Association of Private Engineering Colleges, which they later withdrew.
The bench said "the above order will take care of the issue.
