Madras High Court on Pon Manickavel case: We may declare judicial emergency

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday warned the state government that the court may have to declare 'judicial emergency' if the government continues to ignore the court order to provide all the required facilities to Pon Manickavel to enable him to carry out his work as Special Officer probing the idol theft cases.

A special division bench of Justice R Mahadevan and Justice P D Audikesavalu had on Monday directed the advocate general, public prosecutor and the special government pleader to appear on Wednesday and explain why the government failed to implement the court order to provide all the necessary facilities to Pon Manickavel. The court was upset when the officer complained at that hearing that he was literally working from the streets as he had no office space at the Idol Wing office in Guindy.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, the Additional Advocate General Arvind Pandian told the Bench that the government had allotted offices for Pon Manickavel at Trichy and Kumbakonam as per the court order. Besides, there was also space available for him at the Idol Wing office at Guindy, Chennai, whereas he chose to lock up the room and hand over the key, Pandian said.

Upon this, Pon Manickavel told the court that the said room had been allotted to him when he was the Inspector General, Idol Wing. After his retirement, the Inspector in the Wing pleaded with him to hand over the room key and he obliged, he claimed.

AAG Arvind Pandian told the court that despite being a retired officer, Pon Manickavel was writing letters directly to the district SPs seeking police force for carrying out his operational work whereas the right thing to do would be to direct his requests to higher officials.

The court then pointed out to the AAG that even the State DGP (Rajendran) is a retired officer and his service has been extended. Pon Manickavel was appointed by the court as Special Officer after his retirement to continue investigation of the idol theft cases, the court said.

Visibly upset about Pon Manickavel complaining of lack of facilities, the court said the government must strictly follow its orders in this issue as otherwise, the court may have to declare "judicial emergency" (a situation when the government fails to carry out the court orders).

The court then adjourned the case.