Madras High Court Upholds One-Man Commission to Investigate Chennai Conservancy Workers’ Protest, Questions Police Hesitation
Chennai, September 19, 2025 – The Madras High Court today refused to interfere with the constitution of a one-man commission to investigate the arrest and alleged harassment of lawyers and law students who provided legal assistance to Chennai conservancy workers during recent protests. The court sharply questioned why state law officers appeared hesitant about the commission’s formation,stating,”Why are you afraid of the commission? It will only help you in bringing out the truth.”
The commission will be headed by retired Madras High Court Judge V. Parthiban. Its formation stemmed from a habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by advocate S. Vijay,alleging illegal arrest and harassment of those assisting the conservancy workers by police.
The case saw a shift in benches, initially heard by Justice Ramesh, and later by Justices J. Nisha Banu and S. Sounthar. On September 9, the latter bench ordered the commission’s constitution be kept in abeyance until September 17, following a sub-application from the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police to vacate the initial September 2 order.
During proceedings,the state’s request to appoint a judge from another state to lead the commission drew further criticism from the chief Justice,who remarked,”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.”
Meanwhile,12 women conservancy workers filed a separate writ petition on September 11,seeking an inquiry by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women (TNSCW) into alleged human rights violations and charges of sexual harassment during their detention on August 13.The court granted the state until October 10 to file a counter affidavit in this case and ordered it be jointly heard with the HCP.
On September 17, the bench led by Justice Banu declined to extend the interim order and directed law officers to seek an early hearing from the Chief Justice’s Bench. Today, the Chief justice’s Bench insisted the commission commence its inquiry independently of the pending plea for an inquiry by the SHRC and TNSCW.