Judge Uses Judicial Power To Settle Scores With DSP, Faces Madras HC Heat

Last Updated:September 25, 2025, 12:52 IST

The Madras High Court ordered action against Pa U Chemmal for misusing judicial power in Kancheepuram, targeting DSP M Sankar Ganesh and his ex-PSO over personal animosity,

Acting on a petition filed by the Kancheepuram SP, Justice Sathish Kumar quashed the remand order.

The Madras High Court has ordered disciplinary action against Kancheepuram Principal District and Sessions Judge Pa U Chemmal after a high-level inquiry found that he misused judicial authority to act against a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and his former Personal Security Officer (PSO) due to personal animosity.

Justice N Sathish Kumar directed that the inquiry report be placed before the Vigilance Committee and the Transfer Committee, noting that Judge Chemmal’s continuation in Kancheepuram was no longer tenable.

The case pertains to a minor altercation over a stale cake between a customer and a bakery owner, linked to the judge’s ex-PSO, that was amicably settled in July. The bakery owner, Sivakumar, is the father-in-law of the judge’s former PSO, R Lokeshwaran, The Indian Express reported.

However, suspecting Lokeshwaran of spreading false rumours, the judge allegedly pressured police to register FIRs against him and his family under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, even issuing oral threats to officers.

On September 4, the judge issued a suo motu externment order under the Act, forcing Lokeshwaran and others to stay away from Kancheepuram. Four days later, he summoned DSP M Sankar Ganesh, who had been assigned to investigate, and accused him of failing to arrest the bakery owner, and remanded him to custody under Section 4 of the SC/ST Act.

Later on September 9, the Madras HC intervened. Acting on a petition filed by the Kancheepuram SP, Justice Sathish Kumar quashed the remand order as “completely unwarranted” and bbeyond judicial powers. The court ruled that arrests cannot be compelled, nor can courts act suo motu without formal complaints.

An inquiry led by Registrar (Vigilance) Jacintha Martin confirmed that the judge had also tried to influence police, food safety officials and had taken coercive action against a local pharmacy. Justice Kumar concluded the judge had weaponised his powers to settle personal scores.

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Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18…Read More

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18… Read More

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