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.
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News & Updates Published
Order
Falsely Labelling Police Constable Husband As A Terrorist Cannot Be Ignored, Caused Severe Mental Torture: Madras High Court
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court recently granted divorce to a police constable, observing that his wife’s allegations against him, including claims of extra-marital affairs and connections with terrorist organizations, caused him severe mental torture and amounted to mental cruelty. Case Background:…
Order
No Caste Can Assert Exclusive Ownership Over a Temple: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently made an important ruling on the administration of temples, specifically regarding caste-based claims to control temple management. The court ruled that no caste can claim ownership or control over a temple, and the administration of a temple based on caste identity is not a protected…
Order
Refusal to Intervene in FIR Against News Channel for Alleged Disclosure of POCSO Victim’s Identity: Madras High Court
Chennai, March 6, 2025 – The Madras High Court has refused to interfere with an order passed by the Special Judge for POCSO Cases, Chennai, which directed the registration of an FIR against News Tamil 24x7, a Tamil news channel, for allegedly disclosing the identity of a victim in a POCSO case. The Court observed that…
Order
Insurance Company Liable To Compensate For Death Caused By Intoxicated Driver: Madras High Court
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has held that an insurance company is liable to pay compensation to the family of a deceased pedestrian, even if the driver of the vehicle was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. This ruling was issued in the case of Bhuvaneshwari V/s M/S BVM…
Order
Convicted Prisoner Also Has Right To Marry, Granted Emergency Leave: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court has recently granted emergency leave to a prisoner serving a life sentence, allowing him to marry while he is incarcerated. This judgment was made on January 3, 2025, and the court relied on the provisions of Section 6 of the Tamil Nadu Suspension of Sentence Rules, 1982 to justify its decision.…
Order
Insurance Company Must Compensate Even If Driver Was Drunk During Accident: Madras High Court
In a landmark ruling, the Madras High Court has observed that an Insurance Company would still be liable to pay compensation to the family of a deceased individual, even if the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident was under the influence of alcohol at the time. This judgment comes in the wake of a Kerala…
Order
Matrimonial Dispute Alone Insufficient To Prove Husband Set Wife Ablaze, Allegations Must Be Established With Legal Evidence: Madras High Court
In a landmark judgment, the Madras High Court acquitted a man, Vendaraja, who was accused of setting his wife ablaze and killing her. The bench consisting of Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice R Poornima pointed out that there was a lack of legally acceptable evidence to establish the connection between the accused…
Order
Holographic Stickers Supplied By Prohibition & Excise Dept For Alcohol Bottles Classified As ‘Goods’, Not Taxable: Madras High Court
In a recent ruling, the Madras High Court has clarified that the supply of holographic stickers or excise labels by the Prohibition and Excise Department of Tamil Nadu, meant to be affixed on bottles of alcoholic liquor, constitutes a supply of "goods" rather than a "service". The court held that these labels fall…
Order
'CBFC Equipped To Perform Its Duty': Plea Against Certification Of “Bad Girl” Movie Dismissed: Madras High Court
In a recent ruling, the Madras High Court dismissed a petition seeking a direction to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to withhold certification for the upcoming Tamil film "Bad Girl". The Court dismissed the plea after it was informed by the CBFC that they had not received any application for the film's…
Order
Alleged Adulterer Must Be Given A Chance To Refute Adultery Allegation In Divorce Proceedings: Madras High Court
In a recent judgment, the Madras High Court emphasized the importance of including the alleged adulterer as a co-respondent in divorce cases filed on the grounds of adultery, provided the details of the alleged adulterer are known. The court observed that if the identity of the alleged adulterer is not known, the…
Order
Parental Strained Relationship Should Not Impact Child's Welfare: MEA, Indian Consulate In US Directed To Renew Minor's Passport: Madras High Court
In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court directed the Ministry of External Affairs and the Consulate General of India in Houston, USA, to renew the passport of a 15-year-old minor girl, despite her mother's refusal to provide consent. The court emphasized that the child's right to education, guaranteed under…
Order
Director Of Medical Education Directed To Organize Awareness Programs On LGBTQ+ Issues, Include Community Speakers: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court recently issued a significant directive in the case S Sushma and Another v. Director General of Police and Others (Writ Petition No. 7284 of 2021), involving the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ issues in the medical education curriculum. The court emphasized the need to raise awareness about LGBTQIA+…
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
