ADVOCATE R. KARUNANIDHI, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court

COMPENSATION UNDER VICARIOUS LIABLITY - SINCE THE JUVENILE BOY DIED FOLLOWING PHYSICAL TORTURE AT ILLEGAL POLICE CUSTODY: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State to pay a compensation of ₹ 25 lakh to the family members of a 17-year-old boy who died following custodial torture at the hands of S.S. Colony police in Madurai in 2019. Justice P. Dhanabal directed the State to pay the compensation in two months. (M Jeya v The Principal Secretary and Others (2023 Live Law (Mad) 256) The Madras High Court increased the compensation amount in a police custodial death case to 25 lakhs from 5 lakhs after a writ petition was filed by the mother of the deceased seeking just and reasonable compensation of Rs. 50,00,000 (Fifty lakhs) and a government job for her family. The petitioner alleged that her son died due to police custodial torture. A Bench of Justice P. Dhanabal followed a method followed by Motor Accident Claims Tribunal cases to calculate the compensation a...

VISUALLY CHALLENGED PERSON – DIRECTION ISSUED TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AS PER THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY ACT,2016. High Court has granted relief to a Police who was discharged from service after acquiring 100% blindness during service and being declared medically unfit for service. High Court allowed the Writ Petition and issued direction to reinstate the Petitioner into service and provide all benefits. (Ganesan Vs The Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police – 2025 Live Law (Mad) Page 22). Published and Reported in https://www.verdictum.in/court-updates/high-courts/madras-high-court/ganesan-v-the-commandant-wpmdno26560-of-2024-reinstatement-of-visually-impaired-cop-alternative-employment-1565795. The Madras High Court recently came to the aid of a visually impaired Policeman who was working as a Nayak in the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force by ordering his reinstatement after noting that he had acquired the disability while he was performing his duty. The Writ Petition be...

GOVERNMENT JOB CANNOT BE DENIED BY STATE ON THE GROUND THAT THE PETITIONER HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE PEACEFUL PROTEST DURING COLLEGE DAYS: High Court held that right to protest is fundamental rights and issued direction to the Police Department to grant employment. ( Arunkanth v State of Tamil Nadu (2023 Live Law (Mad) 224)

நியூயார்க்கின் மிட் டவுன் சமூக நீதி மைய நீதிமன்றத்தில் எனது அனுபவம்: My Experience at the Midtown Community Justice Center Court Hall, New York: -- R. Karunanidhi, Advocate, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court சமுதாயத்தில் குற்றம் செய்த நபர்களுக்கு வழக்கமாக நீதிமன்றத்தின் மூலம் தண்டனை வழங்காமல், சாதரண குற்றச்செயல்களில் ஈடுபடும் நபர்களுக்கு அவர்களை திருத்தும் வகையில் சமுதாயத்தில் மற்றவர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து மீண்டும் நல்ல முறையில் வாழ்வதற்கு ஒரு புதுவித அனுகுமுறையை அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள நியூயார்க் மாநில நீதித்துறை செய்து வருவதை கணடு வியந்தேன். 1991-ல் நீயூயார்க் நகர சிறையில் இருபதாயிரத்திற்கும் மேற்ப்பட்ட குற்றவாளிகள் இருந்தார்கள். தற்போது 6000 குற்றவாளிகள் மட்டுமே நீயூயார்க் நகர சிறையில் இருக்கிறார்கள். இந்த நீதிமன்றம் ஆரம்பிக்கபட்ட பின்பு சிறு சிறு குற்றங்களை செய்த எல்லா நபர்களையும் சிறையில் அடைக்காமல், அவர்கள் திருந்தி வாழ்வதற்காக ஒரு வழிமுறையை இந்த நீதிமன்றம் உருவாக்கி உள்ளது. இதனால் அவர்கள் ஒரு Habitual Offender ஆக மாற வாய்ப்பு இல்லை. நான் கடந்த இரண்டு வாரங்களுக்கு முன்...

Building bridges, not bars: The need for Community Justice Centers in India --R Karunanidhi is an Advocate practicing before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-need-of-community-justice-centers-in-india It is necessary for state governments as well as courts of law to reform and rehabilitate first-time offenders. Published on: 13 Dec 2024, 7:59 pm A recent observation by the Madras High Court has brought to light the urgent need for reformative measures in handling juvenile cases in India. While granting bail to a 19-year-old youth, the Court lamented the lack of sensitivity shown in handling juveniles and stressed the importance of introducing a reformation project across the State to prevent them from becoming notorious criminals. This issue brings into focus the potential of Community Justice Centers as transformative institutions in India’s judicial system. My recent visit to the Midtown Community Justice Center...

Building bridges, not bars: The need for Community Justice Centers in India - R. Karunanidhi, Advocate https://www.barandbench.com/columns/the-need-of-community-justice-centers-in-india A recent observation by the Hon’ble Madurai Bench has brought to light in the urgent need of reformative measures in handling juvenile cases in India. While granting bail to a 19-years old youth, the Court lamented lack of sensitivity shown in handling juveniles and stressed the importance of introducing a reformation project for juveniles across the State to prevent them from becoming notorious criminals and to enable them to enter mainstream society (Jana Vs State). This issue brings into focus the potential of Community Justice Centers as transformative institutions in India’s judicial system. My recent visit to the Midto...

Madras High Court Directs Authorities To Exempt Vehicle Tax, GST For Car Purchased By Visually Challenged Person https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/madras-high-court/madras-high-court-exempt-vehicle-tax-gst-for-car-visually-challenged-person-231967 Bringing relief to a visually impaired woman, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the authorities to grant exemption from motor vehicle tax and GST for the car to be purchased for her use. In a significant decision, the Madras High Court, represented by Justice P.T. Asha, has granted tax exemption to a visually challenged individual seeking to purchase a car for personal use. The petitioner, Carunia Seelavathi, who holds a disability identity card indicating 100% physical impairment, had approached the court to register her new car, a TATA NEXON XE (Petrol), and avail tax exemption as per G.O.Ms.No.3352 dated December 29, 1976. Justice P.T. Asha took cognizance of the petitioner’s plight, considering her visual impa...