High Court
Madras High Court
Chennai
The Madras High Court is one of India's oldest High Courts, established in 1862. It has jurisdiction over the state of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
441+
News & Updates Published
Judgment
Hostels for Working Men and Women Classified as Residential, Not Commercial Properties for Tax Purposes: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court, in a significant judgment delivered by Justice Krishnan Ramasamy, held that hostels for working men and women cannot be classified as commercial properties for the purpose of levying property tax, water tax, and electricity charges. The Court stated that hostel premises are meant purely for…
Order
IPS Officer Balveer Singh Challenges Magistrate’s Order Framing Charges in Four Custodial Torture Cases: Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday heard a petition filed by IPS officer Balveer Singh, seeking to set aside the order of the Judicial Magistrate that framed charges against him in four custodial torture cases. The cases pertain to incidents alleged to have occurred while Singh was serving as…
Order
Question of Verifying SC/ST Community Status of Government Employee After Retirement Referred to Larger Bench: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court, led by Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, has referred to a larger bench the significant question of whether the community certificate or caste status of a government employee can be verified after retirement. The bench observed that there were conflicting views…
Order
Why Have CARA Guidelines Not Been Amended to Include Adoption by Transgender Persons? Court Questions Central Government: Madras High Court
Title: Transgender Adoption Rights Under Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 – Madras High Court Seeks Centre’s Explanation On Delay In Amending CARA Guidelines Court Seeks Centre’s Clarification The Madras High Court, in a significant hearing, questioned the Central Government over the delay in…
Order
POCSO Conviction in Disputed Relationship and Alleged Sexual Offense Case Set Aside: Madras High Court
The case involves Sathish Kumar, who was convicted under Section 5(1) read with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). The controversy arose regarding the date of alleged sexual assault, and the age of the victim at that time. The complaint was lodged by the victim, PW1, claiming…
Judgment
No Distinction Can Be Made Between Unmarried and Divorced Daughters in Grant of Freedom Fighters’ Pension: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has reaffirmed that a divorced daughter who is living in impoverished circumstances is also a dependent eligible to receive Freedom Fighters Pension. The ruling was delivered by Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, who followed the view taken by the Supreme Court in the case of Khajani Devi, holding that…
Order
Judges Must Uphold Law Without Fear of Backlash, Says Court While Restoring License of Hospital Allegedly Involved in Kidney Racket: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has quashed an order of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services that cancelled the license of Cethar Hospital, Tiruchirappalli, for its alleged involvement in a kidney racket. Justice G.R. Swaminathan observed that the authorities failed to follow the mandatory procedure prescribed…
Order
Marriage Does Not Grant Men Unquestioned Authority Over Their Wives; Woman’s Endurance Must Not Be Misconstrued as Consent: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has ruled that marriage does not entitle men to exercise unquestioned authority over their wives and that ensuring a wife’s comfort, safety, and dignity is not a secondary duty but a core obligation of the marital bond. Justice L. Victoria Gowri, while setting aside the acquittal of an…
Judgment
UIDAI Directed to Correct Widow’s Aadhaar Details; Court Highlights Accessibility Issues Faced by Senior Citizens: Madras High Court
In a compassionate and practical judgment, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to correct the Aadhaar details of a 74-year-old widow, whose family pension was delayed due to errors in her Aadhaar card. The order, delivered by Justice G.R.…
Order
Adoption Deed Executed by Grandparents on Behalf of Unmarried Daughter Valid if Done with Her Consent: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently ruled that an adoption deed executed by the grandparents of a child will be valid if the child’s biological mother, who is unmarried, has given her consent. Justice Dhandapani delivered the judgment, emphasizing that the purpose of adoption is to ensure the child’s welfare and permanent…
Order
Offence Deemed Purely Personal; POCSO Case Against Man Who Married 17-Year-Old Girl Quashed: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has quashed a criminal case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) against a young man accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl. The order was passed by Justice N. Sathish Kumar, who observed that the offence was personal in nature and continuing the…
Order
Three Police Officers Directed to Pay ₹10 Lakh Compensation to Man Falsely Implicated in Drugs Case: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has directed three police officers to jointly pay Rs.10 Lakh as compensation to a man who was wrongfully convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Justice K.K. Ramakrishnan passed the order after finding that the officers, identified in the judgment as P.W.2,…
Judgment
Mother Granted Permanent Custody of Daughter, Permitted to Take Child to Canada: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has granted a mother permanent custody and guardianship of her minor child and permitted her to take the child to Canada, where she lives and works. Justice P.B. Balaji passed the order on October 7, 2026, in O.P. No. 209 of 2025. The mother and father had separated following the dissolution of…
Judgment
Refuses to Recall Microplastics Labelling Order, Holds Disclosure in Packaged Water, Sugar and Salt Is Not Premature: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has refused to review or recall its 06.02.2026 order directing labelling disclosures for plastic/PET bottled drinking water, sugar and salt. The ruling was delivered on 28.09.2026 by a Bench comprising Justice N. Sathish Kumar and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy. The review application was filed…
Judgment
RPG Enterprises’ Trademark Challenge Dismissed: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has dismissed a trademark rectification petition filed by RPG Enterprises Limited against the registration of “RPG Marble Pvt. Ltd.” in the name of RPG Marble Pvt Ltd. The petition was filed under Section 57, Trade Marks Act, 1999, challenging Registration No. 1474334, registered on 28.07.2006 in…
Judgment
PIL Challenging Tamil Nadu Gold Ring Tender to Joyalukkas Dismissed: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has dismissed a public interest petition challenging the award of a government contract for 4,41,667 one-gram, 22-carat gold rings under the Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam scheme. The petition was filed by Raj.G, who described himself as a goldsmith, against The Tamil Nadu Medical Service…
Judgment
Land Acquisition Relief Reversed After Finding Acquisition Completed, Inquiry Ordered Into Altered A-Registers: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has allowed the State’s appeal in W.A.No.1638 of 2026 concerning land acquired in Pattanam village, Coimbatore district for a bypass road on NH-47. The dispute concerned 4.06 acres in Survey No.183/1, originally owned by Ramasamy Konar and his brother Kalimuthu Konar, which was acquired between…
Judgment
Amendment Allowing Appointment of District Judges as TN Lokayukta Secretary Upheld: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has upheld the validity of a Tamil Nadu Government amendment that permits the appointment of serving and retired District Judges from the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Service as Secretaries of the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta. The Division Bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan…
Judgment
‘It May Not Always Be Feasible to Take Wife Along’: Man Granted Divorce After 16 Years of Separation: Madras High Court ‘
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has overturned a Family Court decision refusing divorce to a 67-year-old man and has dissolved his marriage after the couple remained separated for 16 years. A Division Bench comprising Justice G.R. Swaminathan and Justice M.D. Sumathi allowed the civil miscellaneous appeal…
Judgment
Wiping a Minor’s Tears and Holding Her Hand Without Sexual Intent Does Not Constitute Sexual Assault: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently clarified that any physical contact during normal human interactions, such as wiping tears, holding hands, or comforting someone, does not inherently constitute sexual assault. The Court emphasized that the presence of sexual intent must be established through surrounding circumstances…
Judgment
Rise in Criminal Cases Against Lawyers Raises Concern; Bar Councils Asked to Respond on Policy Measures: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has expressed serious concern over the increasing number of practicing advocates facing criminal prosecutions. The Court observed that this rising trend raises institutional questions about the impact on the legal profession and the justice system. The Court has called upon the Bar Council of…
Judgment
Husband Seeking Divorce Over Wife's Accidental Hip Injury Is 'Inhumane' and Against Constitutional Values: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently delivered a significant judgment emphasizing that seeking divorce solely on the ground of a spouse’s physical disability or injury is contrary to constitutional values of dignity, equality, and compassion. The Court held that a person who sustains accidental injuries cannot be deemed…
Judgment
Magistrate Cannot Reassess Surrogacy Eligibility Certificate; Couple's Parenthood Plea Revived: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has ruled that a Judicial Magistrate cannot question or sit in appeal over eligibility certificates validly issued under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 while deciding applications relating to the parentage and custody of a child born through surrogacy. The Court held that such proceedings…
Judgment
State Must Ensure Dignified Disposal of Mortal Remains After Family Refuses to Receive Body in Manamadurai Custodial Death Case: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has directed the authorities in Madurai to take immediate steps for the dignified disposal of the mortal remains of Akash Delison, a 26-year-old man whose death allegedly occurred due to custodial violence. The Court passed the order after noting that the body had remained unclaimed for nearly 90…
Order
Can Citizens Be Blamed for Acting on Their Own When Official Machinery Fails?: Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, on October 9, 2026, intervened in a case involving villagers from Ammapatti and Nagappanpatti in Sivagangai district, who opposed road construction linked to a solar power project operated by a commercial entity known as Kwality Shutters. The company had installed solar…
Order
Appointment of Tamil Nadu Director of Legal Studies Stayed for Six Weeks Over Promotion Rules: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has stayed for six weeks the Tamil Nadu Government’s order temporarily promoting Dr. Gowri Ramesh as Director of Legal Studies at Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University. Justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar passed the interim order on October 1, 2026, in W.P. No. 40231 of 2026. The petition was filed…
Order
FCRA Registration Plea Rejected After Zen Trust Failed to Disclose Its Religious Nature: Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed CMA(MD) No. 1057 of 2026, filed by Kanzeon Public Charitable Trust, Montessori School, Perumalmalai, Kodaikanal, against the Union of India. The Trust, founded in 2021 and registered under Sections 12AB and 80G of the Income Tax Act, had sought registration…
Order
Unsubstantiated Allegations and Childlessness Alone Cannot Establish Matrimonial Cruelty, Divorce Denied: Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed a husband’s appeal seeking divorce on the ground of cruelty under Section 13(1)(ia), Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The judgment was delivered on 30.09.2026 by a Bench comprising Justice G.R. Swaminathan and Justice M.D. Sumathi. The couple married on 18.06.2007 at…
Order
Woman Owning ₹1.7 Crore Flat and Luxury Cars Awarded ₹1 Lakh Monthly Maintenance, Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has dismissed a criminal revision challenging a maintenance order passed by the VI Additional Principal Judge, Family Court, Chennai. The case arose from a dispute between a man and a woman who said they had married on 20.01.2020 at a temple at Uthiramerur and later lived together. The woman said…
Order
Everyday Matrimonial Disputes and Family Friction Alone Cannot Establish Cruelty or Desertion for Divorce: Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dismissed two appeals filed by a husband challenging a Family Court order that rejected his divorce petition and allowed his wife’s plea for restitution of conjugal rights. The couple married on 09.09.2015 at S.N.S. Mahal, Vadiveeswaram, Nagercoil. A female child was born…
Order
Sentence Suspended, Bail Granted in SC/ST Act Case: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has suspended the substantive sentence imposed on Anand in a case arising from Crime No.14 of 2021 and ordered his release on bail pending disposal of his appeal. Justice M. Nirmal Kumar passed the order on 28 September 2026 in CRL MP No.9091 of 2026 in CRL A No.672 of 2026. The petition was…
Order
‘If There Can Be House Wives, There Can Be House Husbands’: Marriage Dissolved by Mutual Consent: Madras High Court
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has dissolved the marriage of Dr.K.Venkatesan and Dr.V.Aarthi, who were married on 9 February 2011 at Tiruvannamalai. The couple, both doctors, had two children. Dr.Venkatesan pursued higher medical qualifications while Dr.Aarthi stayed with her parents at Theni and cared for…
Order
Plea Seeking Election Expense Deposit and Five-Year Ban on Resigning MLAs Rejected: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has dismissed a public interest petition seeking new restrictions on elected legislators who resign voluntarily and later seek to contest elections again. Advocate K.Suthan filed W.P.No.36274 of 2026 against the Union of India, the Election Commission of India, the Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil…
Order
High Speed Alone Does Not Establish Rash or Negligent Driving, Conviction in Fatal Bus Accident Case Set Aside: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has acquitted Udhayakumar, setting aside his conviction in a 2014 road accident case that resulted in the death of an autorickshaw driver. Justice G. Arul Murugan passed the order in CRL A No. 512 of 2022 on 16-09-2026. The case arose from an accident on 03.11.2014 at about 7.00 a.m. on the…
Order
Second Wife Cannot Be Automatically Prosecuted for Bigamy Without Knowledge of Existing Marriage: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Rajalakshmi, who was arrayed as Accused No.2 in Crime No.74 of 2026 registered by the All Women Police Station, Panruti, Cuddalore District. The FIR was registered on 08.07.2026 over an alleged occurrence dated 19.06.2026, invoking Sections 82, 85, 49, 296(b) and…
Order
Caste-Based Restrictions on Temple Entry Amount to Untouchability: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has held that no person can be prevented from entering a temple or participating in a temple festival merely because of caste. Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy made the observation while hearing a petition concerning the participation of the Milagu Kattan Adidravidar Community in the chariot…
Police Acted in a Biased Manner; CBCID Probe Ordered Into Attack on Senior Advocate by Quarry Operators' Representatives: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has ordered a fresh investigation by the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CBCID) into the attack on Senior Advocate V Suresh, who is also the General Secretary of the People's Union for Civil Liberties. The Court held that the investigation conducted by the State Police was not…
About the Madras High Court
The Madras High Court is one of India's oldest High Courts, established in 1862. It has jurisdiction over the state of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Seat
Chennai
State / UT
Tamil Nadu
Region
South India
