J.Palani Vs State Level Scrutiny Committee-Ii — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

J.Palani Vs State Level Scrutiny Committee-Ii — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Certiorari not granted; writ petition disposed of with observations and directions: District Collector's report dated 18.01.2026 furnished to the petitioner, petitioner to participate in and cooperate with the enquiry, and the Committee to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law preferably within three months; no costs; connected miscellaneous petitions (WMP Nos. 22324 and 22326 of 2026) closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the writ petition seeking quashing of the notice letter dated 06.05.2026 and the enquiry report dated 18.03.2025 concerning the petitioner's communal status should be entertained while the fact-finding process is pending before the State Level Scrutiny Committee. +1 more

Court's answer

The Court declined to interfere with the fact-finding process regarding the petitioner's communal status, as that process was still under way before the State Level Scrutiny Committee.

Ratio / Principle

Noticing that the District Collector's report dated 18.01.2026 had not been furnished to the petitioner, the Court directed its furnishing; the report furnished in court on that direction was held sufficient for the petitioner to participate in the enquiry, which would reach its logical end after affording him opportunity.

Key takeaways

The Committee was directed to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, preferably within a period of three (3) months.ratio¶31
The petitioner was directed to participate in the enquiry and cooperate for its speedy disposal.ratio¶30

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Dr. G. Jayachandran and Mrs. N. Mala, JJ.; order by Dr. G. Jayachandran J.) disposed of a writ petition (WP No. 20715 of 2026) by J. Palani seeking Certiorari under Article 226 to quash (i) the notice letter No.12920798 / SaaMe2(2)/ 2026-2 dated 06.05.2026 issued by the State Level Scrutiny Committee-II and (ii) the enquiry report dated 18.03.2025 of the Social Justice and Human Rights Unit and SC/ST Vigilance Cell relating to scrutiny of his communal status. Declining to interfere with the pending fact-finding process, the Court observed that the District Collector's report dated 18.01.2026 had not been furnished to the petitioner and that he would be disadvantaged without it; on the Court's direction the Government Pleader furnished the report to the petitioner's counsel in court, which was held sufficient for him to participate in the enquiry. The petitioner was directed to participate and cooperate for speedy disposal, and the Committee was directed to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law preferably within three months. Writ petition disposed of, no costs; connected WMP Nos. 22324 and 22326 of 2026 closed.

WP No. 20715 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 04-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE DR JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN

AND

THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE N. MALA

WP No. 20715 of 2026 and WMP Nos. 22324 and 22326 of 2026

J.Palani S/o.Jayendran,

..Petitioner

Vs

State Level Scrutiny Committee-II Rep. by its Member Secretary, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai-09.

Social Justice and Human RIghts Unit and SC /ST Vigilance Cell, Rep. by its Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tuticorin, Tuticorin District.

I.Jamal Deputy Superintendent of Police, Social Justice and Human Rights Unit and SC/ ST Vigilance Cell, Tuticorin, Tuticorin District.

..Respondents

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorari, to call for the record pertaining to the impugned letter issued by the 1^st respondent in Letter No.12920798 / SaaMe2(2)/ 2026- 2,dated 06.05.2026 and the enquiry report dated 18.03.2025 submitted by the 2^nd respondent, quash the same.

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WP No. 20715 of 2026

For Petitioner :	Ms.Hema Sampath, Senior Counsel for Mr.M.Saravanan
For Respondents :	Mr.K.Surendran, Government Advocate

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by Dr.G.Jayachandran J.)

The communal status of the petitioner is under scrutiny by the State Level

Scrutiny Committee. Being aggrieved by the notice for participating in the enquiry, the petitioner has filed this writ petition for Certiorari to quash the impugned letter dated 06.05.2026 and the enquiry report dated 18.03.2025 submitted by the Social Justice and Human Rights Unit and SC/ST Vigilance Cell.

Since the fact finding process regarding communal status of the

petitioner is under process, we are not inclined to interfere. However, having noticed that the report of the District Collector dated 18.01.2026, was not furnished to the petitioner herein, we are of the view that the petitioner will be in disadvantage if the report is not furnished to him to defend his case. Today, on our direction, the learned Government Pleader, furnished the report of the District Collector to the learned counsel for the petitioner, this would suffice for the petitioner herein to participate in the enquiry process, which will reach its logical end after affording opportunity to the petitioner.

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WP No. 20715 of 2026

The petitioner shall participate in the enquiry and cooperate for the

speedy disposal of the enquiry process. The committee shall pass appropriate orders in accordance with law preferably within a period of three (3) months.

With these observations and direction, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

(G.J.,J.) (N.M.,J.) 04-06-2026

Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

mp

To

State Level Scrutiny Committee-II Rep. by its Member Secretary, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai-09.

Social Justice and Human RIghts Unit and SC /ST Vigilance Cell, Rep by its Deputy Superintendent of Police, Tuticorin, Tuticorin District.

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WP No. 20715 of 2026

DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN J. AND N.MALA J.

mp

WP No. 20715 of 2026 and WMP Nos. 22324 and 22326 of 2026

04-06-2026

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