Legal Showdown: Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrant for Tamil Nadu Minister Duraimurugan in Decades-Old Protest Case

In a significant legal development sending ripples through Tamil Nadu's political landscape, a special court for cases involving Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the state's prominent Water Resources Minister, Duraimurugan, and twelve other individuals.

This directive comes after their repeated and persistent failure to appear before the court in connection with a decades-old protest case dating back to 1998.

The warrant, a stern judicial measure, mandates the police to execute the order and ensure the accused are produced before the court by April 2.

This decision underscores the judiciary's increasing intolerance towards the non-compliance of summons, even by high-profile public figures.

The case at the heart of this legal action stems from a robust protest staged in October 1998. At that time, Duraimurugan and his fellow protestors had organized a demonstration near Christianpet, Vellore, demanding a fair share of Cauvery River water for Tamil Nadu.

The protest escalated to blocking the national highway, drawing the attention of authorities and leading to legal repercussions.

Following the incident, the police registered a case against Duraimurugan and others. The charges filed included serious accusations such as unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restraint, and criminal intimidation.

A chargesheet detailing these offenses was subsequently filed in 2000, initiating the long-drawn legal battle that has now culminated in the issuance of a non-bailable warrant.

Over the years, the special court had repeatedly issued summons to the accused, urging their presence for the proceedings.

However, these summons were consistently disregarded, leading to the current judicial decision. The Public Prosecutor representing the case had sought additional time to re-issue fresh summons, citing the difficulties in ensuring the appearance of the accused. Yet, the judge, referencing the established pattern of non-compliance, firmly rejected this plea, emphasizing the necessity of judicial efficiency and adherence to legal mandates.

The issuance of an NBW against a sitting cabinet minister, especially one holding a crucial portfolio like Water Resources, highlights the impartiality of the legal system and its commitment to ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their political stature, abide by court orders.

This development is expected to ignite further discussions on political accountability and judicial enforcement in the state.