CHENNAI: The Model Code of Conduct, in force for the May 16 Assembly elections, cannot be a reason for the government to withhold discussions on a legislation to ban ‘Katta Panchayats’ or Kangaroo Courts, the first bench of Madras High Court has held.
The bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh, which made the observation on Thursday, directed the government to place before it a final view with regard to introducing the legislation to curb ‘Katta Panchayat’. The bench was passing interim orders on a PIL from K Gopal of Thiruvottiyur and another taken up as PIL on the basis of a news item in a Tamil daily dated May 25, 2006.
Gopal sought a direction to the local police inspector to register his complaint and consequently recover Rs. 40,000, collected from him by the Nalla Thannner odai Kuppam Meenavar Grama Sabha. The other PIL relates to levy and collection of Rs. 500 from a woman for providing a glass of water to the boy of an ostracised family.
The matter has been posted for on June 23.