MATHEW SAMUEL Vs. EDAPADI K. PALANISAMY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Appellant as well as the First Respondent herein and also perused the materials available on record.

(2.) The First Respondent/Plaintiff is the former Chief Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu and presently, the leader of Opposition party. In connection with a Defamatory Video pertaining to the Criminal trespass, murder and robbery that occurred in the Kodanadu Estate belonging to the erstwhile Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and former Leader of the First Respondent's Political party, late Selvi J. Jayalalithaa in 2017, and the suspicious death of people, particularly, Mr. Kanakaraj, an Accused, supposedly involved in the said crime, uploaded in the Youtube and in the Social Media, he had preferred a Suit in O.S. No.82 of 2019, against the Appellant and Respondents 2 to 7 herein/Defendants 1 to 7 for the following reliefs:

(3.) A perusal of the records would reveal that by Order, dtd. 30/3/2021, issues were framed and the Suit was directed to be posted before the learned Master for recording evidence. Accordingly, the case was posted before the learned Additional Master-I on 30/4/2021 for recording the evidence of the First Respondent herein. But, the First Respondent did not appear for recording evidence. After two years, without recording the evidence of the First Respondent, the learned Master by Order, dtd. 21/7/2023, directed the Suit to be posted before the learned Judge.