On Friday, September 19, 2025, the Madras High Court refused to extend its earlier interim order that had temporarily halted the formation of a one-man commission. This commission is dedicated to investigating accusations of police misconduct during recent protests staged by conservancy workers of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). The court underscored the necessity for the commission to promptly initiate its fact-finding exercise.
The First Division Bench, composed of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan, insisted that the one-man commission—which was originally established by another Division Bench on September 2, 2025—must begin its work to ascertain the truth behind the allegations and counter-allegations made by both the police and the protesting workers.
During arguments presented by law officers attempting to block the commission’s constitution, the Chief Justice posed a direct question: “Why are you afraid of the commission? It will only help you in bringing out the truth.” He also voiced strong disapproval of an alternative request to appoint a judge from outside the state to lead the commission, remarking, “Mr. Counsel, what kind of submission is this? We will record in our order that the State has no faith in the retired judges of this court.”
The commission, which will be headed by V. Parthiban, a retired judge of the Madras High Court, was formed by the Bench led by Justice Ramesh. This decision arose from a habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by advocate S. Vijay, who alleged unlawful arrest and harassment of lawyers and law students who had offered legal assistance to the conservancy workers.
Subsequently, when the habeas corpus cases were reassigned to a Division Bench of Justices J. Nisha Banu and S. Sounthar, the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police filed a sub-application seeking to vacate the September 2 order. On September 9, 2025, the Bench led by Justice Banu issued an interim order, temporarily suspending the commission’s constitution until September 17, 2025.
Concurrently, a group of 12 women conservancy workers submitted a separate writ petition to the High Court. They requested a directive for the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women (TNSCW) to investigate alleged human rights violations and claims of sexual harassment experienced by protesters during their detention on August 13, 2025.
When this writ petition was heard on September 11, 2025, the Chief Justice’s Bench granted the State government a deadline of October 10, 2025, to submit its counter affidavit. The court also instructed the High Court Registry to consolidate the habeas corpus petition with this writ petition for a combined hearing. Subsequently, on September 17, 2025, the Bench led by Justice Banu declined to extend their interim order, advising law officers to address the matter before the Chief Justice’s Bench.
Accordingly, the cases were brought for an expedited hearing before the Chief Justice’s Bench on Friday. The court reaffirmed its stance, refusing to interfere with the one-man commission’s formation and insisting that it proceed with its inquiry, irrespective of the pending plea for an investigation by the SHRC and TNSCW.