The Madras High Court on Wednesday slammed the state government for 'administrative lapses' in the investigation of 2012 clashes at three villages in Dharmapuri district in connection with an honour killing.The court said it still not clear, who all were arrested and what punishment were given to them.
It further said that it wanted an affidavit to be filed with the signatures of the Secretary concerned, explaining the inquiry held to fix the lapses. "We are sure that the period of four years would have been more than enough for completing this task," the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan said.
The bench made the observation while disposing of petitions by several persons, seeking relief in connection with the attacks on Dalit colonies at Dharmapuri on November 7, 2012, by upper caste people, consequent to the death of the father of a girl who married a Dalit boy. The boy later died mysteriously.
"In a democratic country like ours, we are even unwilling to give the man and woman the right to determine whom they want to marry. Not only that, life and property are lost in the meaningless fury of one community against the other, reflecting a sorry state of affairs of the society," the court observed.
Divya, hailing from the Vanniar community, had married a Dalit, Ilavarasan, which was objected to by her father, who committed suicide. The incident triggered violence, and 326 houses were burnt in Nathamkottai, Kondampatti and Anna Nagar villages in Dharmapuri district.
Later, Ilavarasan was found dead near a railway track under mysterious circumstances. In this connection, petitions and PILs were filed in the high court, seeking a response from various departments of the central and state government for suggestions to protect, rehabilitate and provide relief to those affected.
The bench while looking into the petitions, observed that a mindless frenzy had taken place, resulting in loss of a large amount of property- 326 houses were stated to have been burnt down in three villages. "If we may say, it amounted to complete collapse of administration," it said.
It noted the final report was not filed as there were interim directions by it, which, by consent, were now lifted.The bench referred to an SC order, which said there was nothing honourable in honour killing or other atrocities and the fact that it was nothing but a barbaric and shameful murder.
