(Order of the Court was made by The Hon'ble Chief Justice) This writ petition has been filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus and/or appropriate Writs directing respondents 1 to 3 to handover the enquiry into the outbreak of fire at the Additional Sandal Depot at Tirupattur, which took place on 16.03.1997, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
2.The incident, as noted above, took place on 16.03.1997, that is, over 20 years ago. Further, an enquiry was held by a Commission headed by a sitting Judge of this Court, Justice A.Raman (who has since retired). The Commission submitted its report on 02.11.1999. The report was accepted by the Government on 18.11.1999.
3.It appears that a writ petition being W.P.No.17734 of 2013 was filed by one Kannan against the State of Tamil Nadu and others for a direction on the sixth respondent/Director General of Police, CBCID, Chennai, to re-investigate the fire incident that had taken place on 16.03.1997 at the Additional Sandal Depot at Tirupattur, as per the recommendation of Justice A.Raman Commission. A Bench of this Court of co-ordinate strength presided over by the then Chief Justice passed an order dated 25.07.2016 closing the writ petition with the observation that the recommendations of the Commission had duly been implemented and that "the C.B.C.I.D. investigated the case and filed charge sheet against seven officials but the Fast Track Additional Sessions Court, Tirupatthur, in the order dated 11.08.2006 in S.C.No.211 of 2004 passed an acquittal order giving benefit of doubt. The opinion thereafter obtained suggested no further action was required".
4.This writ petition and/or the affidavit in support thereof does not disclose any cogent reasons why investigation should be re-opened at this stage and handed over to the CBI.
The Writ Petition is not entertained and the same is dismissed. No costs.