Tamil Nadu Govt orders withdrawal of 5,570 cases against CAA, Farm Law protesters, media

The Tamil Nadu government has issued a Government Order (GO) to withdraw a total of 5,570 cases filed between 2011 and 2021 against media personnel and persons who had peacefully protested against various laws and projects.

. The cases ordered to be withdrawn include those against persons who protested against the 2020 farm laws, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the eight-lane Chennai-Salem expressway project, the methane project, the neutrino observatory project and the Koodankulam nuclear power plant project.

. The decision follows an allied announcement made by incumbent Chief Minister MK Stalin of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government on the Legislative Assembly floor last June.

. A Government Order issued earlier this month and signed off by Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, SK Prabakar stated:

. "The Government, after careful examination, hereby order(s) for the withdrawal of 5,570 cases as per Annexure (I-V) registered against the freedom of Media/ Press (2011-2021) and Protestors who protested peacefully against three Agricultural Amendment Laws, National Register of Citizens/ Citizenship Amendment Act, Eight Lane/ Methane/ Neutrino of Koondakulam issues …. following the procedures as opined by the Public Prosecutor, High Court, Chennai ... " . In line with a Supreme Court ruling on the issue, the cases involving sitting or former legislators, however, would only be withdrawn in consultation with the Madras High Court, the Government Order (GO) added.

. Accordingly, the Director General of Police was directed to furnish the details of cases involved against sitting or former MPs/MLAs to the government, for taking up the matter up with the High Court of Madras.

. As per the GO, the cases to be withdrawn include 2,831 cases against freedom or media or the press, 2,282 cases against CAA protesters, 405 cases against those who protested against the methane/ neutrino/ eight-lane projects and 26 cases against those who protested against the Koodankulam nuclear project.

. There a total of 5,570 cases being withdrawn, of which 4,460 cases are under investigation and 1,110 are pending trial.

. As per the advice of the Public Prosecutor at the Madras High Court, where the investigation is still pending or a charge sheet not taken on file, further action may be dropped by the concerned police, the GO said. In cases where the matter is pending trial, the Assistant Public Prosecutor in charge of the respective case may be directed to move an application under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for withdrawal of prosecution, it added.

. [Read GO]

Tamil Nadu Govt orders withdrawal of 5,570 cases against CAA, Farm Law protesters, media

Meera Emmanuel

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