Madras HC quashes order for probe into construction of new secretariat

 The Madras High Court on Thursday quashed the Tamil Nadu government's order for a Directorate of Vigilance Anti-Corruption (DVAC) probe against DMK leaders for alleged irregularties in the construction of the new assembly-cum-secretariat building here.

The court declared the government order for DVAC probe against DMK President M.K. Stalin and Treasurer Duraimurugan as invalid as the inquiry ordered is based on the evidence gathered earlier by the one-man inquiry commission.

The two DMK leaders, in their petitions, submitted that evidence and material gathered by an inquiry Commission cannot be used against them as this was barred by the Commission of Inquiry Act.

The assembly-cum-secretariat building was the idea of late DMK President and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

The building was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2010.

Later when AIADMK led by late J. Jayalalithaa came to power, the building was converted into a super speciality hospital while shifting the secretariat and assembly back to Fort St. George.

Recently, the one-man inquiry Commission was wound up while the government had asked its Secretary to forward the documents to the DVAC.-IANS