IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 10.11.2022 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA Crl.O.P.No.27427 of 2022 1.Vengatesan @ Venkatesh

2.Somasundaram

3.Vadivelu

4.Devendiran

5.Balaji @ Perumal ...Petitioners vs.

1. The Deputy Superintendent of Police Thindivanam Sub Division Villupuram District. 2. The State rep. by The Inspector of Police, Olakkur Police Station, Villupuram District ...Respondents Prayer : Criminal Original Petition has been filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C., praying to direct the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, (Special Judge for SC/ST Act Cases), Villupuram to consider the bail application filed by the petitioners on their surrender on one and the same day in Crime No.201 of 2022 on the file of the 2nd respondent police.

For Petitioners : Mr.S.Silambuselvan For Respondents : Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Crl.Side)

ORDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking for a direction to the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, (Special Judge for SC/ST Act Cases), Villupuram, to consider the bail application filed by the petitioners on their surrender on one and the same day in Crime No.201 of

2022 on the file of the 2nd respondent police.

2. In view of the specific bar under Section 18 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and also taking into consideration of the possibility of misuse of the stringent provision against innocent persons, there shall be a direction to the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, (Special Judge for SC/ST Act Cases), Villupuram, to consider the petitioners' bail application, preferably on the same day of their surrender in connection with Crime No.201 of 2022 on the file of the 2nd respondent and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, after affording due opportunity to the victims under Section 15-A of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989. The petitioners shall surrender before the concerned Jurisdictional Court, within a period of fifteen days from the date of the receipt of a copy of this Order.

3. It is needless to say that the Court below while disposing the bail petition shall look into the gravity of the offence, previous antecedents of the petitioners and pass orders. Mere direction issued by this Court to consider the bail petition on the same day, does not amount to consider it favourably.

4. In view of the above, this Criminal Original Petition stands allowed.

10.11.2022 Index: Yes/No Internet: Yes/No Speaking/Non speaking order uma Note: Issue order copy on 10.11.2022 R.N.MANJULA ,J.

uma To

1. The Principal District and Sessions Judge, (Special Judge for SC/ST Act Cases), Villupuram.

2. The Deputy Superintendent of Police Thindivanam Sub Division Villupuram District. 3. The State rep. by The Inspector of Police, Olakkur Police Station, Villupuram District

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

Crl.O.P.No.27427 of 2022

10.11.2022