Denied Son's Community Certificate By Revenue Authorities, Man Sets Himself Ablaze Inside Madras High Court Premises

The Madras High Court was witness to a horrific incident on Tuesday when a man, later identified as Velmurugan, set himself on fire inside the court premises. A day later, succumbed to the burn injuries at a hospital 

He set himself ablaze near the mediation centre building inside the court premises after he was allegedly denied community certificate for his son by the Revenue Authorities.

Though the police on duty inside the court premises took swift action and rushed him to Rajiv Gandhi government hospital, he died on Wednesday.

The members of the bar later made a submission before the bench of Justice SM Subramaniam urging the court to take suo motu cognizance of the incident.

The court was prima facie satisfied that the son of the deceased Velmurugan, who belonged to Narikuravar Community, was deprived of his Community Certificate even after repeatedly making submissions before the Revenue Authorities. 

The Authorities are expected to respond to the applications submitted by the citizen for issuance of Community Certificates. Citizen cannot be made to run pillar to post for the purpose of getting Community Certificates. Even in the matter of issuing Community Certificates, several irregularities are brought to the notice of this Court, the court noted.

The court said that Community Certificate was an important document for the purpose of availing reservation and other benefits. The frustration of non-issuance of the certificate led the man to commit suicide inside the court premises, it added.

Thus, the court thought it necessary to examine whether the right to get Community Certificate was infringed or not. The court also will examine the reasons for the non-issuance of the Community certificate.

It has directed the Commissioner for Revenue Administration, Chepauk, Chennai, and the District Collector, Kancheepuram District to submit their response. Further, the court directed the Registrar General to number the petition and place it before the Acting Chief Justice for listing for a hearing.