Insepctor of Police Ss Colony Police Station v. Subbiah
Criminal – Quashing – Suo Motu Transfer (Dedicated Bench pilot project, Madurai Bench)
Case brief
What is this about?
Madras High Court, Madurai Bench (K.K.Ramakrishnan, J.), 14.11.2025 — Suo Motu Tr.(MD) No.19420 of 2025 (arising from S.T.C.No.8239/2025, JM No.V Madurai; Cr.No.725/2023, S.S.Colony PS). Quashing of Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, 1937 s.4(1)(a) prosecution: seizure within 'permissible limit for personal consumption' under Tamilnadu Liquor (Possession for Personal Consumption) Rules 1996; no offence made out; s.482 CrPC inherent power; Dedicated Bench pilot project disposing >3-year-old minor cases incl. s.506(ii) IPC class; prosecution's own report seeking disposal of stagnant STCs; liquor destruction and confiscation to State with compliance report; decision expressly declared non-precedential. Petitioner-State represented by Mr.S.Ravi, Additional Public Prosecutor; respondent-accused: Subbiah. No precedents cited.
What did the court decide?
S.T.C.No.8239/2025 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate No.V, Madurai quashed. Directions issued: the liquor remanded in the case shall be destroyed by the Investigating Agency; empty bottles and the seized amount, if any, stand confiscated to the State; a compliance report shall be filed before the Jurisdictional Magistrate forthwith thereafter. The Suo Moto Transfer case stands disposed of, and the Trial Court directed to classify the case and pass orders on property-disposal applications as necessary.