Madras High Court orders Erode court to consider bail pleas of nine in SC/ST Act case

A view of the Madras High Court. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Madras High Court has ordered a special court in Erode to hear the bail applications of nine persons, preferably on the day they are handed over, in a case arising out of an alleged caste-related dispute over a funeral in Perumbali village near Perundurai in Erode district.

Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan passed the order on a criminal original petition filed by nine persons under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. They sought a direction to the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Special Court for exclusive trial of cases under Scheduled Castes and Act Act, Erodes of Tribes Act, Scheduled At Tribes Act, Eroded At Tribes Act their bail application on surrender in Criminal Case No. 89 of 2026. The petitioners were directed to surrender themselves before the competent court within 15 days of receiving a copy of the order.

The case relates to an incident on October 5 where members of the SC community allegedly faced opposition from members of the Most Backward Class (MBC) community over the burial of Chenni, a 90-year-old man, at the communal graveyard at Perumbali village in Madathupalayam panchayat. During the ensuing dispute, two members of the SC community allegedly fell at the feet of members of the other community. The funeral was carried out under the protection of the police and the tax office.

The Thingaluru police initially arrested two persons in connection with the incident. In the course of the investigation, seven more people were included in the case, bringing the total number of accused to nine. The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Communities has directed the collector of erosion and the superintendent of police to submit a detailed report on the alleged caste discrimination by October 30, 2026.

The nine persons have now approached the High Court seeking a direction to a special court to hear their bail applications. The High Court directed the special court to decide the bail applications in accordance with law after giving the victim an opportunity of hearing as required under Section 15A of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. It also said that the seriousness of the offenses and the antecedents of the petitioners should be taken into account while deciding the pleas. In its October 14 order, the court clarified that its direction to consider bail applications preferentially on the day of surrender does not mean that bail should necessarily be granted.

Published – 18 Oct 2026 10:44 IST