JUDGMENT

Thomas, J.-Seventy five advocates, practising in various courts situated in Tamil Nadu, presented two petitions addressed to the Chief Justice of Madras High Court for cancellation of the bail granted to certain persons. It was further prayed therein that the Chief Justice might place the matter before a Division Bench of the High Court for its consideration. On 4.5.1998, the Chief Justice of Madras High Court directed the petitions to be placed before a Division Bench. Finally the matters came before the Division Bench consisting of T. Jayarama Chouta and V. Bakthavatsalu, JJ. Learned Judges held that those petitions, presented before the Chief Justice, are not maintainable and hence no proceedings could be initiated thereon. Accordingly, the Division Bench "closed the suo motu proceedings" by an order passed on 24.9.1998. The first among those advocates has moved the petition for special leave in this Court against the said order. Leave is granted.

2. The back ground for presenting the said petitions is a carnage which took place on 30.6.1997 at a village in Madurai District. In the gory episode six persons belonging to a Scheduled Caste community were done to death. One o