HC asks state to submit land records of Murasoli Trust

The legal battle surrounding the Murasoli Trust, the official mouthpiece of the DMK, took a significant turn as the Madras High Court directed the state to submit revenue records related to the land in question. The case revolves around allegations of Panchami land misuse, with Justice SM Subramaniam presiding over the proceedings. The case was brought to court by Murasoli Trust, represented by its trustee RS Bharathi, seeking to prohibit the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) from proceeding with a hearing or adjudication complaint filed by R Srinivasan, BJP state secretary. Senior counsel P Wilson, representing the trust, argued that there is no substantial evidence proving that the land owned by the Murasoli Trust qualifies as Panchami land. The counsel emphasized that even the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had asserted in the state Assembly that there is no Panchami land in Chennai. Wilson further contended that the NCSC, being a non-adjudicating authority, lacks the jurisdiction to decide the sale title of the land. He highlighted that the land in question was purchased by Anjugam Publication, with the sale deed and patta submitted to the court. Additionally, the counsel challenged the complainant’s standing, asserting that Srinivasan has no locus standi as he is not a member of the Scheduled Caste (SC). Wilson also argued that the former vice-chairman of the NCSC, L Murugan, who lodged the complaint, is politically biased and has since been appointed as a Union Minister of the State, raising concerns about political motivations behind the case. Citing Article 338 of the Constitution, the counsel emphasized that the report of any commission cannot be considered equivalent to a court decree. On the other side, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan, representing the NCSC, argued that the commission has the duty to investigate any complaint related to the deprivation of SC individuals. Sundaresa