Madras High Court Weekly Round-Up: July 14 to July 20, 2025

NOMINAL INDEX

Malar Selvi v. The Director DVAC, 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 239

Dr.A.K.Boominathan v. The Director of Collegiate Education and Others, 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 240

Thirumalaisamy v. The State of Tamil Nadu and Another, 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 241

Venkatesan v. The District Collector and Others, 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 242

2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 243

Prakash Ramachandran v. The District Collector and Others, 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 244

R.K.M Powergen Private Limited v. The Assistant Director and others, 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 245

REPORT

DVAC Cannot Ignore Corruption Complaints Over Absence Of Documents, Must Gather Evidence Itself: Madras High Court

Case Title: Malar Selvi v. The Director DVAC

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 239

The Madras High Court recently observed that the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption should not brush aside complaints merely because of the absence of documents. The court added that the DVAC was a specialised investigative agency and must gather evidence across all departments.

Justice B Pugalendhi added that as per the Vigilance Manual, the department had the power to discreetly verify facts, access roads, and conduct discreet searches. The court added that the strength of the department was crucial for preventing corruption. Noting that the department, at present was understaffed, the court asked the Government of Tamil Nadu to take appropriate steps to strengthen the department and enhance the sanctioned strength and infrastructure within 6 months.

Aided Colleges Can't Compel Students To Participate In Religious Or Communal Activities Not Approved By Education Dept: Madras High Court

Case Title: Dr.A.K.Boominathan v. The Director of Collegiate Education and Others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 240

The Madras High Court has held that a aided college cannot compel its students to take part in any religious, communal or other activities which are not approved by the Department of Education.

The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice AD Maria Clete also observed that if it was found that an aided college was compelling students either directly or indirectly, the Director of Collegiate Education could initiate appropriate action to cancel the aid. The court added that aid should be granted only to colleges that follow the law and the Constitution.

The court also made it clear that no posters or banners indicating communal name or a group's name should be affixed in the college premises and in case such posters are found, the police and the Department of Education could take all necessary action.

Madras High Court Shocked Over SC Community Members Made To Wait Till Other Community Members Fetch Water From Common Tap

Case Title: Thirumalaisamy v. The State of Tamil Nadu and Another

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 241

The Madras High Court recently expressed shock over members of the Scheduled Caste community being made to wait for their turn till members from other community fetch water from the common tap.

Justice RN Manjula said that it was “surprising and pathetic” to note that even in this scientific age, some communities had to stand second in order to get their share of common resources. The court added that even though specific legislations had been brought in for protecting the vulnerable sections of the society, the situation still remained same at the grass root level.

The court added that while it may not be easy to remove the caste and class mentality from the minds of the people, the people in power could not remain mute spectators. The court emphasized that what was needed what not some make-believe stunt but some practical solution and noiseless action. Thus, being aware of the realities and doing things that can be best done with the power vested was the need of the hour, the court added.

Temple Entry Cannot Be Denied To Persons Based On Caste: Madras High Court

Case Title: Venkatesan v. The District Collector and Others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 242

The Madras High Court has emphasized that no person can be denied temple entry due to their caste, and action should be taken against any such person discriminating against persons who prevent individuals from participating in temple function.

Justice Anand Venkatesh observed that preventing people from entering temples and offering prayers on the basis of their caste was an affront to their dignity. The court added that such discrimination cannot be permitted in a country which was governed by the rule of law. The court also remarked that caste and community were human creations and the God was always considered neutral.

The court also highlighted that as per Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorisation Act 1947, every Hindu, irrespective of his caste or sect, shall be entitled to enter a Hindu temple and offer worship. In case a person was restricted from entry, action could be taken against the concerned persons.

Merely 'Liking' A Post Not Enough To Show Intent To Hurt Religious Sentiments: Madras HC In FIR Over Alleged Posts On RSS

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 243

The Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) earlier this month granted anticipatory bail to four men accused of provoking religious unrest by allegedly liking social media posts labelling RSS and Bajrang Dal as terrorist organisations.

A bench of Justice P Vadamalai observed that a mere 'shared like' on a social media post cannot be construed as an intention to hurt religious sentiments.

'What's Divine To One Is Nuisance To Another': Madras High Court Bars 'Nama Sankeerthanam' In Houses Without Collector's Nod

Case Title: Prakash Ramachandran v. The District Collector and Others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 244

The Madras High Court recently observed that Nama Sankeerthanam, devotees chanting the names of god in a religious gathering, cannot be permitted at a residential premises without the approval of the District Collector.

Justice Anand Venkatesh thus restrained an individual from converting his residential house into a prayer hall and conducting nama sankeerthanam without the permission of the District Collector. The court added that if at all any prayer was to be conducted, it should be inside the house, without causing nuisance to anyone.

Though the individual claimed that the religious rights were protected under Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution and that the prayer was being conducted for peace of mind, the court noted that what was divine to him was causing nuisance to the neighbours.

ED Is Not A “Super Cop” Or “Loitering Munition” To Investigate Everything Coming To Its Notice: Madras High Court

Case Title: R.K.M Powergen Private Limited v. The Assistant Director and others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 245

The Madras High Court has reiterated that the Enforcement Directorate can initiate action only upon the existence of a predicate offence and cannot conduct investigations on its own.

The bench of Justice MS Ramesh and Justice V Lakshminarayanan said that ED was not a super cop to investigate anything and everything that came to its notice. The court stressed that there must be criminal activity coming within the schedule of the Act, and there should be proceeds of crime based on which the ED will have jurisdiction to commence an investigation.

The court stressed that if an act was to be done in a particular way, it must be done in that way and no other way. The court added that if the ED was allowed to conduct an investigation merely on coming to know about any activity, the ED would be conducting roving enquiry.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

What Should A Woman Do To Remove From Internet Her Intimate Photos/Videos Uploaded Without Consent? Madras High Court Asks Centre

Case Title: X v. Union of India and Others

Case No: WP 25017 of 2025

The Madras High Court has asked the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to explain the steps to be taken by a victim girl when her intimate photos/videos are posted online without consent.

Justice Anand Venkatesh said that considering the social framework of the country, not all girls would be willing to go to the police station and give complaints. However, noting that the girls should not be left to suffer silently, the court asked the Ministry to give a prototype of how the girls could handle the situation without getting themselves exposed.

The court was dealing with a petition filed by a young woman advocate seeking direction to the Ministry to act upon her representation and take all appropriate measures to block and remove her intimate photos and videos which were uploaded online by her former partner without consent. The court had previously asked MeiTy to take down all such photos and videos within 48 hours.

Madras High Court Issues Notice To Actor Vijay In Trademark Infringement Suit Against His Party's Flag

Case Title: GN Pachaiyappan and Another v. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Another

Case No: OA 713 of 2025

The Madras High Court has issued notices to Actor Vijay and his party, “Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam”, on a trademark infringement suit filed challenging the TVK party's flag.

Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy has issued notices to the actor and his party on a petition filed by G.B. Pachaiyappan, trustee of the Thondai Mandala Saandror Dharma Paribalana Sabai. The case has been posted to July 29.

The plaintiff argued that the flag of Vijay's TVK party was deceptively similar to that of the Trust's trademark. It was submitted that by adopting a similar and identical flag, with yellow and red colour combination and three stripes, the party had imitated the Trust's unique, distinctive mark, causing confusion and deception, and thus amounting to trademark violation.

Plea In Madras High Court Seeks Advisories For Media Reporting In Aftermath Of Aviation Accidents, Says Prematurely Blaming Pilots Wrong

Case Title: M Pravin v. The Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Others

Case NO: WP 26535/2025

A plea has been filed in the Madras High Court calling upon the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Director General of Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to issue necessary guidelines/advisories for media reporting in the aftermath of aviation accidents.

The plea, filed by an Advocate M Pravin from Coimbatore, sought for detailed guidelines to ensure that no premature or speculative statements are made in the aftermath of the accidents until official investigations are complete.

Pointing to the recent media reports blaming the pilots in the Ahmedabad plane crash, the plea stated that often after aviation incidents, news agencies and social media platforms publish unverified content prejudicing and attributing the blame to the pilots. The plea stated that such prejudicial reporting damages the reputation of pilots and their career prospects and affect their personal dignity and well-being.