Madras High Court Case Commentaries

Preventive-detention voting exception under Section 62(5) RP Act applies only where custody is purely preventive

Date: Apr 28, 2026

Preventive-detention voting exception under Section 62(5) RP Act applies only where custody is purely preventive (mixed custody bars voting) 1. Introduction In Hari Nadar v. the election commission...

Judicial Restraint in Election-PILs: No Mandamus Once the Election Commission Has Initiated Action for Section 127A RPA, 1951 Violations

Date: Apr 22, 2026

Judicial Restraint in Election-PILs: No Mandamus Once the Election Commission Has Initiated Action for Section 127A RPA, 1951 Violations 1. Introduction The Madras High Court, in R.A.S.Senthilvel v....

Third-Party Writs/PILs on Alleged Hate Speech in Election Campaigns Are Not Maintainable; Remedy Lies with Aggrieved Persons Under Election Law

Date: Apr 21, 2026

Third-Party Writs/PILs on Alleged Hate Speech in Election Campaigns Are Not Maintainable; Remedy Lies with Aggrieved Persons Under Election Law Case: VA PUGAZHENDI v. THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER...

Fair Investigation under Article 21: District-Level Transfer and Victim Access to CCTV Footage & Investigation Progress (BNSS s.528)

Date: Apr 11, 2026

Fair Investigation under Article 21: District-Level Transfer and Victim Access to CCTV Footage & Investigation Progress (BNSS s.528) Case: V.Marisamy v. The State of Tamilnadu, rep Court: Madras High...

Vulnerability-Disclosure Complaints Are Not a Writ Substitute When the Complainant Has No Personal Data Breach and the “Vulnerability Test” Is Prima Facie Unauthorised Access

Date: Apr 9, 2026

Vulnerability-Disclosure Complaints Are Not a Writ Substitute When the Complainant Has No Personal Data Breach and the “Vulnerability Test” Is Prima Facie Unauthorised Access Case: Himanshu Pathak v....

Acknowledgment/Variation Letter as Part of Original Contract: Extending Limitation and Enforcing Refund/Damages for Uncommenced Film Production

Date: Mar 30, 2026

Acknowledgment/Variation Letter as Part of Original Contract: Extending Limitation and Enforcing Refund/Damages for Uncommenced Film Production 1) Introduction The decision in M/s. Photon Factory v....

Publicity Interest Litigation Bar in Custodial-Death Matters Under Judicial Monitoring & Article 21 Duty to Ensure Dignified Last Rites

Date: Mar 26, 2026

Publicity Interest Litigation Bar in Custodial-Death Matters Under Judicial Monitoring & Article 21 Duty to Ensure Dignified Last Rites 1. Introduction In C.Selvakumar v. The Chief Election...

State Duty to Independently Enquire into Katta Panchayat “Social Boycott” and Initiate Criminal Action to Protect Article 21 Rights

Date: Mar 25, 2026

State Duty to Independently Enquire into Katta Panchayat “Social Boycott” and Initiate Criminal Action to Protect Article 21 Rights 1. Introduction In P.REVATHI v. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR (Madras High...

Section 106 Evidence Act Cannot Substitute Proof of “Last Seen Together” in Spousal Homicides

Date: Mar 5, 2026

Section 106 Evidence Act Cannot Substitute Proof of “Last Seen Together” in Spousal Homicides 1) Introduction Selvi v. The Inspector of Police (2026 MHC 961) is a decision of the Madurai Bench of the...

Registrar’s Supervisory Power Under Section 68(2) Does Not Include Cancellation of Registered Sale Deeds; Civil Court is the Proper Forum for Alleged Fraud

Date: Mar 5, 2026

Registrar’s Supervisory Power Under Section 68(2) Does Not Include Cancellation of Registered Sale Deeds; Civil Court is the Proper Forum for Alleged Fraud 1. Introduction Case: Gurumurthi v. THE...

Advocate’s Privilege in Defamation Complaints: No Criminal Prosecution for Client-Instructed Statements Absent Specific Overt Acts

Date: Mar 3, 2026

Advocate’s Privilege in Defamation Complaints: No Criminal Prosecution for Client-Instructed Statements Absent Specific Overt Acts Case: J.N.Naresh Kumar v. Jayakaran Vasudevan Court: Madras High...

Ministers Cannot Publicly Purport to Nullify Sub Judice Court Orders; Impleadment in Contempt Not Founded on Unverified Media Reports

Date: Mar 3, 2026

Ministers Cannot Publicly Purport to Nullify Sub Judice Court Orders; Impleadment in Contempt Not Founded on Unverified Media Reports 1. Introduction Case: S.Paramasivam v. K.J.Praveen Kumar Court:...

Wilful Contempt in Temple Land Encroachment Matters: “Anticipated Resistance” Is No Defence; Compliance Ensured Through Continuing Mandamus-Style Monitoring

Date: Feb 28, 2026

Wilful Contempt in Temple Land Encroachment Matters: “Anticipated Resistance” Is No Defence; Compliance Ensured Through Continuing Mandamus-Style Monitoring Case: A.Radhakrishnan v....

Women’s Commission Recommendations Require Statutory Investigation and Member-Secretary Authentication (Chairperson Cannot Act Unilaterally)

Date: Feb 26, 2026

Women’s Commission Recommendations Require Statutory Investigation and Member-Secretary Authentication (Chairperson Cannot Act Unilaterally) Case: C.Ve. Shanmugam v. The Tamil Nadu State Commission...

Article 21 Right to Periodic Medical Check-ups in Prison & Mandatory Reasonable Accommodation for Disabled/Amputee Prisoners

Date: Feb 24, 2026

Article 21 Right to Periodic Medical Check-ups in Prison & Mandatory Reasonable Accommodation for Disabled/Amputee Prisoners 1. Introduction The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in M.Kalaiselvi...

Administrative Lethargy Is Not “Sufficient Cause”: Strict Refusal to Condoned Inordinate Government Delay and Mandatory Institutional Scrutiny

Date: Feb 21, 2026

Administrative Lethargy Is Not “Sufficient Cause”: Strict Refusal to Condoned Inordinate Government Delay and Mandatory Institutional Scrutiny 1. Introduction The Madras High Court (Chief Justice...

Article 226 Cannot Be Used to Expand Executive Welfare Schemes Beyond Their Eligibility Criteria

Date: Feb 20, 2026

Article 226 Cannot Be Used to Expand Executive Welfare Schemes Beyond Their Eligibility Criteria 1. Introduction This intra-court appeal (WA No.3866 of 2025) before the Madras High Court arose from...

Delivery of Postal Articles Addressed to Deceased Addressees: Legal Heirs at the Residence Must Receive Delivery Unless No Proper Recipient Exists

Date: Feb 20, 2026

Delivery of Postal Articles Addressed to Deceased Addressees: Legal Heirs at the Residence Must Receive Delivery Unless No Proper Recipient Exists 1. Introduction In MOHANA RAMASWAMI v. The Secretary...

Negative Viscera Report Not Fatal in Poisoning Deaths When Clinical Records and Accused Admissions Prove Administration

Date: Feb 19, 2026

Negative Viscera Report Not Fatal in Poisoning Deaths When Clinical Records and Accused Admissions Prove Administration Case: S.Muneeswaran v. The Inspector of Police Court: Madras High Court...

Temple Invitations Must Omit Caste Suffixes of Ubayatharars: Prospective HR&CE Duty Under Article 14

Date: Feb 18, 2026

Temple Invitations Must Omit Caste Suffixes of Ubayatharars: Prospective HR&CE Duty Under Article 14 1. Introduction In N.SAMARAN v. THE COMMISSIONER (Madras High Court, 17-02-2026, W.P.No.6606 of...