2026-07-30: Madras HC Fast-Track Orders, SC Medical Seats Verdict, TN Key Updates

Madras HC Mandates Fast-Track Trials for Sexual Offences

The Chief Justice-led division bench directed all trial courts in Tamil Nadu to complete sexual offence cases within two months of charge-sheet filing, in line with Section 346(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Adjournments will only be allowed for truly exceptional reasons, which must be recorded in writing. For cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the court reiterated the statutory requirement to record child victim evidence within 30 days and conclude trials within one year wherever possible. It ordered the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy to conduct regular training for POCSO court presiding officers on child-sensitive procedure, and directed the immediate appointment of officers to four vacant POCSO courts in Cuddalore, Dindigul, Madurai and Thoothukudi. A high court committee will monitor trial progress across all districts, and the Registrar General must issue periodic compliance reports listing cognisance dates, current trial stage, and reasons for any delay beyond statutory timelines. The bench noted sobering data shared by the DGP: 3,170 (16.7%) POCSO cases were past the 30-day trial limit, and 149 rape and 4,729 POCSO charge-sheets were yet to be filed by trial courts due to pending forensic reports, lack of POCSO courts in 20 districts, and judicial vacancies.

Supreme Court Verdict on TN Super Speciality Medical Seats Sparks Debate

The Supreme Court directed Tamil Nadu to surrender 151 unfilled super speciality (DM/MCh) medical seats reserved for state service candidates to the all-India quota (AIQ), with specific safeguards: the second round of counselling must be held at the original qualifying percentile, and if the percentile is lowered later, 50% of leftover seats will revert to Tamil Nadu, with the remaining 50% filled via AIQ. Tamil Nadu had refused to surrender the seats earlier without an assurance that qualifying cut-offs would not be reduced, and pursued a legal battle to protect quota seats for its government doctors. The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association criticized the state government for negligence and lack of seriousness in handling the case, while Chief Minister M.K. Stalin questioned why the government failed to retain the seats, which would have produced doctors for state service. The Service Doctors and Post Graduates Association noted the order may have limited impact, as the number of NEET DM/MCh applicants from state service has dropped drastically due to a lack of new super speciality posts in state medical colleges, with the health department’s redeployment model instead of new post creation discouraging service postgraduates.

Palani Temple Land Scam: Four Arrested, CBI Probe Sought

Four persons were arrested by the CB-CID in connection with the illegal sale of 1.4 acres of land belonging to the Dhandapani Swamy Math in Palani, on charges of cheating, forgery, abetment and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The arrested include the land seller, two buyers, and a local facilitator; the land, administered by the temple’s executive officer, is used as free parking for devotees. The CB-CID registered the case on July 16 after the temple superintendent filed a complaint against unauthorized sale of math land, and had been interrogating Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department and registration officials for two weeks. Former Palani MLA K.S.N. Venugopalu Senapathi filed a public interest litigation seeking a CBI probe into the scam. Separately, former Union Minister G.K. Vasan urged the Jal Shakti Ministry to revise its stance on the Karnataka government’s Mekedatu dam project, terming the Union minister’s earlier statement on the project irresponsible, while PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss alleged a Congress-BJP conspiracy against Tamil Nadu on the issue.

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