Madras High Court dismisses OPS kin's appeal

Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High court has dismissed the appeal filed by Tamil Nadu Finance minister O Pannerselvam’s brother Raja against the single judge direction to the Dindigul collector to appoint a special public prosecutor at the district principal session judge’s court in the Dalit priest’s suicide case.

Mr Justice S Vaidyanathan of this court had passed the order on February 2, when the father of the Dalit priest, whose suicidal act was allegedly abetted by Raja and four others, sought court intervention to appoint one B Mohan, advocate from Erode as special public prosecutor to assist him in the case.

Though the case was handled by the regular public prosecutor, the priest’s father Subburaj was not satisfied because the accused could use his political clout to “influence the prosecutor”.

Following the court direction, the Dindigul district collector appointed the new public prosecutor. The hearing also commenced in the district principal sessions judge court on Tuesday.

In the meantime, Raja filed the appeal petition against the single judge’s order. While dismissing his writ appeal, the division bench comprising Justices S Manikumar and C T Selvam asked the petitioner to approach the district principal session judge to place his request not to appear for the case on daily basis. The bench observed the sessions court could decide on this based on the merit.Meanwhile,  the Dindigul district principal session court posted the hearing of the case to March 14, bec ause the newly appointed special public prosecutor did not appear for hear ing on Wednesday.