Can Govt lawyers file libel suits for CM? HC to decide on Aug 8

Granting an interim stay on the proceedings against DMK president and Opposition leader M K Stalin in a defamation suit pending at the Kanchipuram Sessions court, Justice N Anand Venkatesh on Thursday observed that the High Court off late has been flooded with pleas seeking to quash such defamation suits.

Wondering as to whether Government advocates can indulge in filing such criminal defamation suits against politicians, the Judge noted that several such criminal defamation suits are pending in almost all the sessions courts in the State and pleas to quash the same keep flooding the High Court.

All such cases would be taken up for hearing on August 8 when it would be decided as to whether government advocates can file cases on behalf of those in the ruling front at the first place and as to whether they have powers to do the same, Justice Anand Venkatesh said.

Earlier, based on a plea moved by Stalin, the Judge granted an interim stay on the criminal defamation proceedings pending against him at Kancheepuram Sessions court. He also stayed the summons issued to Stalin to appear in person regards the suit.

As per the suit, Stalin on January 20 while speaking at a wedding in Sholinganallur had reportedly criticised the yagam the Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam held at the Chief Secretariat to safeguard their positions and that it is a matter of time before both would end up in jail.

Based on this, the district government advocate moved the criminal defamation suit on the basis that the opposition leader’s utterances had defamed the good name of the Chief Minister in society. The district sessions judge on admitting the plea had summoned Stalin to appear resulting in him moving the High Court seeking to quash the proceedings and the summons issued.