Recently the government of Tamil Nadu issued a Government Order which sought to withdraw a total of 5,570 cases which were filed between the years 2011 to 2021 against media personnel and demonstrators who had protested peacefully against the various laws and projects in the State.
The order given by the government was to be signed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Government, namely SK Prabakar. Accordingly, the Police’s Director-General was directed to furnish the case details in reference to the former or sitting MPs/MLAs to the government for taking these matters with the High Court of Madras.
Of the 5,570 cases which were proposed to be withdrawn, 4,460 cases are undergoing investigation and in 1,110 of the cases, the trial is pending. In the cases where the matter is still pending trial, the Assistant Public Prosecutor who is in charge of the respective case may be directed to move applications under Section 321 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) for withdrawal of the prosecution.
