September 2:The Madras High Court has intervened in a sensitive case involving the alleged illegal detention and assault of lawyers and law students during a protest by sanitary workers near the Ripon Building in Chennai. A Habeas Corpus Petition (HCP No.1599 of 2025) was filed by petitioner S. Vijay, claiming that 13 individuals had been taken into custody unlawfully by the police on 13 August 2025.
Background of the Case
The protest, led by sanitary workers from Greater Chennai Corporation’s Zone V and VI, had been ongoing since 1 August. On 13 August, the First Bench of the High Court, while allowing the right to peaceful protest, directed that pavements and public roads should not be blocked. That very night, several lawyers and students who had gone to assist the workers were allegedly detained by the police.
Read also:- Supreme Court Clarifies Limitation in Arbitration Cases: Knowledge of Award Must Reach Competent Authority
On 14 August, The Division Bench of Justice M.S. Ramesh and Justice V. Lakshminarayanan ordered the release of six detenues, observing that their arrest appeared prima facie unlawful.
The order clearly stated:
"The respondents are directed to forthwith release the detenues... on condition that no statements be made to the press or on social media until further hearing."
Read also:- Allahabad High Court Strengthened with 26 Fresh Judges Approved by SC Collegium
Counsel for the State argued that some detainees had attacked a woman constable and damaged buses, producing video clippings and medical records. However, the court noted that the footage only showed minor damage and that the arrest appeared to have preceded the alleged vandalism.
Two detenues, Advocate Aarthy and Law Graduate Valarmathi, alleged they were brutally assaulted in custody, leaving one of them unconscious and hospitalised for three days with internal bleeding. Their sworn affidavits were placed before the Bench, directly contradicting the police version.
Read also:- Supreme Court Restores NCLT Order, Declares Shailja Krishna Sole Owner of Shares
The Judges observed:
"While the Police are entitled to arrest persons for infraction of laws, they are certainly not entitled to assault those who have been arrested."
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the Bench appointed retired Justice V. Parthiban as a One-Man Commission of Inquiry to ascertain whether the detenues were assaulted after arrest. The Tamil Nadu Legal Services Authority has been asked to facilitate the proceedings, while the State Government has been directed to pay an initial honorarium of ₹2 lakh to the Commission.
The matter has been adjourned to 17 September 2025, with the police directed to file their counter-affidavit in the meantime.
Case Title: S. Vijay vs. The Commissioner of Police & Anr.
Case Number: H.C.P. No. 1599 of 2025
