‘Not a Mere Law and Order Issue’: Madras High Court Slams Police Inaction Over Abuse of Former Judge

The Madras High Court recently issued show-cause notices to the Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, for the failure of the police to act on a complaint alleging abuse of a former judge managing Pachaiyappa's Trust.

The division bench of Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K. Kumaresh Babu was hearing a review application connected to long-standing disputes surrounding the administration of the Trust, when it took note of a disturbing report submitted by the Administrator, a former judge of the high court.

According to the report placed before the bench, an incident occurred on December 23, 2025, when certain unruly elements allegedly entered the premises of a college run by the Trust and misbehaved with the Administrator. The report stated that abusive and foul language was used against him, despite the fact that he was discharging his duties pursuant to a judicial order.

The Administrator further informed the court that a complaint had been lodged by the Secretary of the Trust with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kilpauk, detailing the incident. However, even after the matter was formally brought to the notice of the police, no action had been taken against the alleged offenders.

Taking serious exception to this inaction, the high court observed that the Administrator appointed by it was effectively acting on behalf of the judiciary. Any obstruction, abuse, or intimidation directed at such an Administrator, court noted, could not be viewed as an isolated law-and-order issue.

The bench held that both the conduct of the alleged offenders and the failure of the police to respond amounted to a direct attack on the authority of the judiciary.

In this backdrop, court directed the Director General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, and the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kilpauk, to show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

Court asked the officers to appear before the court, either in person or through counsel, and file a report on January 30, 2026. Copies of the order and the Administrator’s report were also directed to be served on the Advocate General and the Public Prosecutor.

Apart from the police inaction issue, court also dealt with broader concerns relating to the functioning of Pachaiyappa’s Trust, which has been embroiled in litigation for several years. The Administrator’s earlier reports highlighted multiple pending matters, including a suit seeking modification of the Trust scheme, challenges to earlier appointments made between 2013 and 2016, audit irregularities spanning nearly a decade, and allegations of misappropriation of funds.

Court noted that several writ appeals and special leave petitions, including proceedings before the Supreme Court of India, were pending in relation to different aspects of the Trust’s administration. However, it clarified that the pendency of these cases would not stall the process of conducting elections to the Trust Board, as earlier directed by the high court.

The Administrator informed the bench that following court-ordered public notices, several representations and suggestions had been received regarding voter enrolment and the election process. Taking note of this, court requested the Administrator to compile these representations, examine them in the light of the Trust’s bye-laws, and place a further report before court on March 3, 2026.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 30, 2026.

Case Title: G.Anbazhagan vs. S.Jeyachandran and Others

Order Date: January 8, 2026

Bench: Justice G. Jayachandran and Justice K. Kumaresh Babu