Madras HC Rejects Plea Challenging Inquiry Commission To Probe Jayalalithaa’s Death

The Madras High Court, on Wednesday, rejected a Petition seeking a stay on the enquiry commission set up to probe AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa’s death.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar reportedly refrained from interfering with the State Government’s order appointing Justice Arumugasamy, a retired Madras High Court Judge, as the one-man enquiry commission.

It rejected the Petitioner’s contention that the Government could’ve passed an order of appointment only after a resolution was passed by the State Assembly to this effect, opining that the procedure was not mandatory.

“The state legislature is not required for appointment of a one-man commission. The government notification itself is sufficient to appoint the commission,” the Bench was quoted as saying.

Besides challenging the mechanism for appointment of the Commission, the Petition, filed by Mr. P.A. Joseph, had also sought an enquiry into public speeches being delivered by the AIADMK MLAs and MPs who have been making “wrong” statements regarding the hospitalization and demise.

He had further highlighted the fact that the entire State Government machinery was involved in the episode of hospitalization, treatment and death of Jayalalithaa and had contended that it “would be proper that the Centre steps in and constitutes an independent inquiry commission.”