‘Cannot settle personal scores’: Madras HC rebukes Judge for misusing judicial powers

Chennai: The Madras High Court has pulled up Kancheepuram Principal District and Sessions Judge Pa U Chemmal for gross misuse of authority, with an inquiry confirming that he wrongfully remanded a DSP to custody to settle personal scores with his former Personal Security Officer (PSO).

On Tuesday, Justice N Sathish Kumar directed that the inquiry report be placed before the High Court’s Vigilance Committee for disciplinary action and before the Transfer Committee for immediate steps, ruling that it was “no longer tenable” for the judge to remain in Kancheepuram.

The controversy arose from a July quarrel at a bakery in Walajabad between a Scheduled Caste customer and the bakery owner, who happens to be the father-in-law of Judge Chemmal’s former PSO, R Lokeshwaran. 

Although police closed the case amicably, the judge allegedly suspected his ex-PSO of spreading false information about him and pressed police to book Lokeshwaran’s family under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

When police hesitated, the judge threatened action, after which two FIRs were registered. On September 4, he passed a suo motu externment order forcing Lokeshwaran’s family to leave Kancheepuram.

Four days later, he summoned DSP M Sankar Ganesh, accused him of failing to make arrests, and remanded him to custody under Section 4 of the SC/ST Act.

The High Court intervened on September 9, quashing the orders as “completely unwarranted”. Justice Sathish Kumar ruled that courts cannot compel arrests nor invoke suo motu powers without due process.

The inquiry by Registrar (Vigilance) Jacintha Martin found that Judge Chemmal had also pressured a Food Safety Officer to raid the bakery and acted against a local pharmacy — signalling a wider misuse of judicial powers.

Statements from senior police officers, the DSP, the PSO, and others corroborated the allegations.

“While trial judges enjoy wide discretion, such discretion cannot be weaponised to settle personal scores,” Justice Sathish Kumar observed, stressing the need for immediate disciplinary measures.

With the report now before the committees, Judge Chemmal faces likely removal from Kancheepuram and further action for abuse of judicial power.