Judge case: Madras HC directs govt to file report

The Madras High Court on Friday directed the Tamil Nadu government to file a report on whether the land being claimed by some persons in Kaverirajapuram were covered in the Thiruvallur district collector's report to the Supreme Court Collegium, which was looking into allegations of land-grabbing in the area by Karnataka Chief Justice P D Dinakaran.

Government pleader Hasan Fizal told the court that the collector's report was confidential and that it had been sent directly to the collegium and the government was not aware of its contents.

In her order, Justice K Suguna directed the government pleader to produce a report stating whether the land in question was covered in the collector's report.

Earlier, Fizal had contended that the representations of the claimants to 'anadeenam' land had been received by the department concerned and was under its consideration. It was for the authorities to go into the veracity of the claims.

The Supreme Court collegium has put on hold Justice Dinakaran's elevation to the apex court, following the charges and the district collector had sent a "discreet report" on the land holdings of the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice.

On November 6, Justice Suguna had passed an open court order for maintenance of status quo in respect of the lands. However, she had not signed the order.

Two organisations --Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation and Peoples' Watch had filed impleading petitions alleging that the claimants of the land were not bonafide and their contention of alleged possession of lands, which were part of 'anadeenam' lands in the village was a 'falsehood'.