T.N. government pays ₹1 lakh to lawyer subjected to custodial torture
The G.O. issued on April 21, 2025 has authorised the Chennai Collector to disburse the compensation amount to A. Abdul Rahim, who was a law student in 2022 but had now got enrolled as a lawyer with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and send the proof of payment to the government at the earliest.
The government also instructed the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force to initiate disciplinary action against Inspector of Police Naseema, Sub Inspector Palani, Head Constable Boominathan and constables Uthirakumar, Sathyaraj, Hemanathan, Jaya Anthony Sundar Raj, Santhanamahalingam and Tirunavukarasu.
The G.O. pointed out that inquiry conducted by a Revenue Divisional Officer, under the Police Standing Orders, had revealed that the police personnel had intercepted Mr. Rahim during a vehicle check on January 13, 2022 and demanded a fine of ₹500 despite him wearing a face mask and also maintaining physical distance.
The RDO also found the police personnel to have demanded the fine amount by stating that they had been asked to book at least 50 cases a day for COVID-19 guideline violations. When the law student questioned the illegality, he was taken to the Kodungaiyur police station and beaten up black and blue.
Since a government doctor had confirmed the student to have suffered grievous injuries, the government decided to pay compensation to the student, now a lawyer, besides ordering disciplinary action against the police personnel concerned for subjecting him to human rights violations.
The government also took note that the Madras High Court had already ordered a Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) inquiry with respect to the criminal action to be taken against the police personnel concerned for the alleged excess committed by them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Consumer body to file PIL demanding construction of subways on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore city
The Coimbatore Consumer Cause will file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding construction of five subways along the 10.1 km stretch of Avinashi Road in Coimbatore city as planned initially in the Avinashi Road flyover project. K. Kathirmathiyon, secretary of the consumer body, said five pedestrian subways were approved across the stretch, with ₹15.47 crores earmarked for it in the sanctioned estimate of ₹1,621.30 crore flyover project. However, the revised estimate of ₹1,791.22 crores for the project had apparently excluded these essential safety provisions, without any reasonable justification. Only a Foot over Bridge (FOB) was approved near a private educational institution because it was requested by the institution. There was no such consideration for the convenience of the general public, he said. When the issue was taken up to the Coimbatore district Collector in 2024, he called for a Special Road Safety Committee meeting on March 1, 2024, which was attended by the City Police Commissioner and Corporation Commissioner. After a thorough discussion, the officials of the Highways Department were instructed to provide the facility for pedestrian crossings. The Collector also sent a letter dated March 28, 2024 to the Divisional Engineer (Projects), Highways Department, instructing the Department to provide subways/FOBs with lifts. Yet, the revised estimate was sanctioned on July 12, 2024, excluding the subways. The Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines mandated construction of pedestrian infrastructures. Absence of pedestrian crossings was said to be the cause of death of more than 10 persons every month in Coimbatore. More than 238 pedestrians died in Coimbatore City alone during the past 2.5 years. The five subways were approved and funds sanctioned too. But, the Highways Department dropped the subways and in some places, development of service road too without anyone's knowledge. The Department should construct all five originally proposed subways (excluding the privately requested FOB) or FOBs at the locations planned initially or nearby. Any further proposal or revision in this work must be done only in consultation with public stakeholders and safety authorities. The service road provided in the original approved design was also deleted in a few places. The roads must be provided as per the original approved plan, he said.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Patrols to curb trespassing, teasing of animals on Pollachi
The Forest Department has intensified patrols on the scenic ghat section of the Pollachi – Valparai Road to curb trespassing of people into forest areas and disturbances caused to wild animals, including the State animal Nilgiri tahr. Officials from the Department said five staff from the Pollachi forest range are conducting two-wheeler patrols at different sections of the ghat road between Attakatti and Aliyar at the downhill. They will dissuade people from parking vehicles on the sides of the ghat section, which passes through reserve forests of the Pollachi range of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, and ensure that wild animals are not disturbed. The State animal Nilgiri tahr, which is an endangered species, and Bonnet macaques are normally spotted along the ghat section. The field staff ensures that motorists do not disturb or feed them, said officials. Though the State Highways Department has installed roller crash barriers at hairpin bends, which also serves as a barrier, miscreants scale it to trespass into the forest to have a view of the Aliyar reservoir and for other activities. According to an official, several incidents of miscreants trespassing into forest areas as an adventure or to consume alcohol have been reported in the recent past. However, no incidents of teasing wild animals have been reported of late. The official added that the patrols were intensified also in view of the rain season as trespassing into cliffs and slopes of the ghat section could lead to mishaps.
India Today
5 hours ago
- India Today
When terror walks free: 7/11 verdict and crisis of India's criminal justice system
Nearly two decades after the deadly 7/11 Mumbai train blasts, which killed over 180 people and injured more than 800, the Bombay High Court's decision to acquit all 12 convicted accused has sent shockwaves across the country. While judicial independence and the rule of law are the pillars of our democracy, the complete collapse of the criminal justice system in a case of this magnitude raises grave questions—not just legal, but also national September 2015, after a nine-year-long investigation led by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court convicted 12 of 13 accused in connection with the coordinated bombings. Five were sentenced to death, seven to life imprisonment, and one was acquitted. One of the death-row convicts later died in 2021 in jail due to COVID-19. However, on 21st July 2025, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had 'utterly failed' to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, and acquitted all 12, including the Hurdles Then, Judicial Acquittal NowThe court's observations on the unreliability of eyewitness testimonies, delayed identifications, lack of corroborative material, and doubts over the voluntariness of confessions are rooted in procedural rigour. It is worth noting that the special court found sufficient ground for conviction based on the same evidence. To summarily discard all evidence and confession-based inputs is not only unfair to the victims and the investigation but also potentially dangerous. These were not petty offenders; they were individuals linked to known terrorist organisations. To assume they will peacefully reintegrate into society is nave. On the contrary, there is a very real and chilling possibility that their release could enable them to re-establish ties with militant networks and plot future attacks under the cover of judicial Trust, Empowering TerrorThis verdict impacts more than just victims' families or police credibility; it undermines public trust in the entire criminal justice system. When justice appears denied in major terror cases, people begin to lose faith in due process, leading to calls for media trials or even extrajudicial actions, as seen in the Hyderabad rapists encounter case. This risks pushing India toward a vigilante mindset where emotion overrides judgments also weaken India's global image as a nation tough on terrorism. Actions like the Balakot strikes, Operation Sindoor, and strong declarations such as 'Any act of terror will be considered an act of war' projected strength, but the 7/11 acquittals create an impression, both domestically and abroad, that India remains a 'soft state' on agencies like the ATS and NIA, the outcome is deeply demoralizing. Years of high-risk investigation and sacrifice feel dismissed, potentially deterring future action. At a time of rising global threats, India cannot afford a justice system that weakens morale and signals impunity to its and National Security Must CoexistThis is not an argument for abandoning due process or fair trial, but a call for judicial sensitivity in cases involving national trauma and security threats. A purely procedural lens risks undermining public trust, morale, and the Supreme Court staying the Bombay High Court's acquittal in the 7/11 case on July 24, 2025, it must now re-examine the matter with a security-conscious approach. Mass-casualty terrorism cannot go unpunished, nor can suspects be freed only to rejoin militant acquittals are a wake-up call for systemic reform across investigation, prosecution, and colonial-era criminal justice system, rooted in rigid procedures and outdated evidentiary norms, is ill-equipped for modern terrorism. Terrorists exploit encrypted tools and leave little evidence, yet the system still demands traditional proofs like eyewitnesses years protecting civil liberties remains vital, blind adherence to outdated norms must not compromise justice in high-risk national security Must IntrospectThe recent acquittal compels the judiciary to engage in serious self-reflection. How can two courts, examining the same evidence, arrive at such radically different outcomes—one imposing death sentences, the other granting complete acquittals? This stark divergence raises troubling concerns about the consistency, objectivity and internal coherence of our justice delivery system. Was the evidence so ambiguous that it led to a miscarriage of justice at the trial stage? Or does this contradiction reflect deeper issues, such as subjective judicial interpretation or the sway of elite legal advocacy?The involvement of Dr. S. Muralidhar, former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court and now Senior Advocate, in representing two terror-accused adds complexity. While fair legal representation is a fundamental right, the participation of a former top judge raises ethical and institutional concerns. His stature could unintentionally influence judicial peers or affect how proceedings are perceived. Even without legal impropriety, such involvement in high-stakes cases calls for regulatory scrutiny toensure judicial processes remain above reproach, both in law and in public perception, especially in matters of national Reforms NeededTo protect India's internal security and ensure justice in terrorism cases, judicial reform and institutional introspection are essential. The criminal justice system comprises of the police, prosecution, and judiciary. While courts often question the competence of investigators and prosecutors, they too must be held accountable, especially in high-stakes terror trials and sensitive criminal investigative agencies like the ATS and state intelligence wings, though rooted in colonial-era policing, have tried to keep pace with changing technology like electronic surveillance, cyber forensics, and multilingual intelligence, the judiciary must now catch up to ensure these technological advances result in effective convictions and timely like the UAPA, MCOCA, and CrPC are evolving to address encrypted data, foreign handlers, and proxy warfare. Yet, judicial delays, inconsistent rulings, and external influences continue to hinder must include specialized training not only for investigators but also for judges and prosecutors in national security law to help balance civil liberties with national interest. Simultaneously strengthening witness protection and forensic protocols is equally crucial. Eyewitnesses mostly succumb to threats even from big criminals, not to mention terrorists having support from our neighbouring country. While the investigative and legal frameworks are adapting, the judiciary must evolve in parallel to preserve coherence, credibility, and integrity in India's fight against isn't about overriding judicial independence, but aligning it with modern security needs. Justice cannot function in isolation, blind to its consequences. The 7/11 acquittals are more than a legal outcome; they test India's institutional the Supreme Court staying the High Court's order, it must now revisit the case not just in legal terms, but in the spirit of national accountability. Can a system that finds no one guilty for Mumbai's deadliest train attack truly claim to have delivered justice?India must ensure its justice system is not only fair and impartial, but alert, modern, and strong enough to face any challenge, including terrorism. The time to introspect is now.(Ashok Kumar is a Retd IPS officer and former DGP of Uttarakhand. He is presently serving as Vice Chancellor of the Sports University of Haryana, Rai, Sonipat, Haryana.)- Ends(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Must Watch
