Jayalalithaa appeals: three advocates to help ex-AG

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, AUG. 7. The former Advocate-General, Mr. K. V. Venkatapathy, who was appointed on June 23 by the Madras High Court to conduct the criminal appeals of the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, can have three advocates of his choice to assist him in each appeal.

The direction was given today by the First Bench comprising the Chief Justice, Mr. N.K. Jain, and Mr. Justice P. Thangavel, on a memorandum filed on behalf of the former AG by Mr. R. S. Bharathi, Alandur Municipal Chairman.

Fixing Mr. Venkatapathy's fee at Rs. 25,000 a day for effective hearing, the Bench said no person other than the Public Prosecutor should conduct the prosecution case.

``However, Mr. Venkatapathy can have his three independent junior advocates on record to assist him in each criminal appeal. The Government shall pay one-third junior fee per day for the respective junior in each case for effective hearing''.

Rejecting Mr. Venkatapathy's plea for protection by Central security force, the Bench said ``in our view it is not tenable, because he has to discharge his duties as the officer of the court. The court is to proceed with the appeals treating the appellant to be single litigant''. It also cautioned the petitioner that the court should not be allowed to be used by anybody to settle political scores.

The Bench, however, put on record the fact that Mr. Venkatapathy had withdrawn his demand for security. ``If he requires, the State shall provide necessary protection to him and will also provide adequate and full protection in the court premises till the hearing is over''. Mr. Venkatapathy's request for the services of the public prosecutor and the investigating officer who had handled the original cases in the trial court was also rejected by the Bench as `not necessary'.

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Section  : Southern States
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