Madras High Court seeks report on Thoothukudi firing officials

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has requested a report from the Tamil Nadu government regarding whether departmental action can be taken against senior officials implicated in the 2018 Thoothukudi police firing. The inquiry follows revelations that disciplinary proceedings against several high-ranking officials, previously recommended by the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission, had been dropped.

A compliance affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary stated that disciplinary actions against the former Thoothukudi Collector, N Venkatesh, as well as former South Zone Inspector General of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav and DIG Kapil Kumar C Saratkar, were discontinued. In the case of former Superintendent of Police P Mahendran, the government has requested a resubmission of the inquiry report with clearer findings.

The court is also reviewing a petition seeking criminal charges against those responsible for the incident and the payment of outstanding compensation to victims. While proceedings against some officials are ongoing or awaiting final orders, the court noted that certain punishments previously imposed on a Sub-Inspector and a Head Constable were cancelled upon appeal.