Madras HC slams ED for ‘expanding powers day by day’, questions legality of sealing premises
Chennai: The Madras High Court has come down heavily on the Enforcement Directorate (ED), observing that it is not merely the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 that is evolving, but the ED officials themselves who are "evolving day by day by expanding their powers".
The remark was made on Tuesday, June 17, by Justice M.S. Ramesh, who was presiding over a division bench along with Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, during the hearing of three writ petitions filed by film producer Akash Baskaran and his associate Vikram Ravindran.
The petitioners alleged that ED officials had effectively “sealed” two premises, an office in Semmenchery and a rented residential flat in Poes Garden, Chennai, during an attempted search operation on May 16, when the premises were locked and the occupants unavailable.
While ED Special Public Prosecutor N. Ramesh denied sealing the properties, claiming that officials had merely pasted notices requesting the occupants to contact the agency, the court found the language used in the notices problematic. Justice Ramesh observed that the notices explicitly stated that the premises should not be opened without ED's permission, a condition the court likened to sealing.
“Even assuming the words in the notice do not amount to sealing, from where do you get the power to prevent an individual from entering his home or office?” asked Justice Lakshminarayanan.
He further remarked that no rational person would risk entering a property bearing such a notice from a central agency, fearing legal consequences.
The court questioned the legal basis for such actions, seeking clarity on which specific provision of the PMLA grants the ED authority to restrict access to locked premises in the absence of occupants.
This observation comes shortly after the Supreme Court, on May 23, had also criticised the ED’s conduct. A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai had remarked, “The ED is crossing all limits… you are totally violating the federal structure of the country.”
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
