P.SUGANTHI Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition styled as a Public Interest Litigation is filed by Ms.P.Suganthi, General Secretary of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), having office at 27, Mosque street, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005, praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus to direct the first respondent to transfer the investigation in Cr.No.1 of 2018 on the file of the Court of Judicial Magistrate No.II, Virudhunagar, to the third respondent, namely, Central Bureau of Investigation, to conduct de novo investigation or in the alternative, further investigation and pass such further orders.

(2.) The petitioner, in the affidavit filed in support of this writ petition, among other things, would state that the petitioner Association is a nation-wide organisation committed to the cause of equality of women and their emancipation and freedom fighter K.P.Janakiammal, Pappa Umanath, Brinda Karat, a Rajya Sabha Member, are some of the icons in the said Association. The petitioner Association also strongly campaigns against social evils, like, female feticide, infanticide, child abuse, sexual violence, domestic violence, trafficking, honour killing and also helps the women victims of said violences to get justice through hundreds of legal aid and counselling centres situated in almost all districts and it is having an impressive and enviable track record.

(3.) It is further averred by the petitioner that a Tamil weekly magazine, viz., "Nakkiran", published a news item on 08.04.2018 and with regard to the same incident, an audio conversation was also under circulation as to certain happenings between the sixth respondent and some college going girls for soliciting them for certain sexual harassment. According to the petitioner, the said audio conversation reveals the possible involvement of higher officials of Madurai Kamaraj University and so it could go upto the level of the Chancellor.