Fri Jan 31 12:23:53 IST 2025: **Madras High Court Threatens Arrest Warrant for Tamil Nadu Home Secretary**
**Chennai, January 31, 2025** – The Madras High Court issued a stern warning to Tamil Nadu Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar on Friday, threatening an arrest warrant if he failed to appear before the court by 4:30 PM to explain widespread delays and failures in police investigations.
Justice P. Velmurugan’s order stems from a petition filed by P. Sundar, a building materials dealer, who alleges police inaction on a case dating back to 2015 involving property damage and trespassing. Despite an FIR being registered, the investigation remains incomplete, highlighting a systemic issue of police inefficiency in registering First Information Reports (FIRs) promptly, completing investigations within a reasonable timeframe, and filing final reports before the magistrate.
The judge expressed frustration over the numerous similar petitions flooding the court, indicating a pattern of police negligence. He noted that while the affluent can afford to pursue legal action to compel police action, the poor are left without recourse. Justice Velmurugan emphasized that the summons to the Home Secretary was not a personal attack but a response to the widespread suffering of citizens facing police inaction. The court highlighted the severe impact on poor litigants who lack the financial means to navigate the legal system. The judge stressed the importance of the police upholding their statutory obligations without requiring court intervention. The court is waiting to see whether the Home Secretary will appear or seek a stay from the Supreme Court.
First Piper 