The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has granted time to the Tamil Nadu government to state its position on disciplinary action against officials and the payment of remaining compensation in the Thoothukudi firing case linked to the Sterlite protest.
The case relates to the police firing during the anti-Sterlite agitation in Thoothukudi on May 22, 2018, in which 13 people were killed. Public interest petitions were filed in 2018 seeking various reliefs, including a CBI probe and compensation for victims’ families. The court had earlier ordered a CBI investigation on August 14, 2018.
When the matter came up earlier on July 23, 2026, a division bench asked the state to clarify whether it had accepted the report of the Aruna Jagadeesan Commission, which had recommended disciplinary action against certain senior officials including the then Collector and three Tahsildars. The bench also sought details on when the remaining Rs 20 lakh compensation would be paid, noting that Rs 30 lakh had already been given.
During the latest hearing, petitioners’ counsel argued that the CBI had not conducted a proper investigation and sought a direction for a probe under the supervision of a High Court judge. The state’s Additional Advocate General said notices were issued to three officials and the disciplinary proceedings found the charges not proved, but a re-inquiry was ordered; the officials have challenged the re-inquiry and obtained a stay.
The bench, comprising Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel, granted time for the government to file further particulars and adjourned the hearing to August 19.
