# The State of Tamil Nadu Sholavandan Man

HTML version: [https://datalibertarian.in/babuwatch/incident/CW-2020-0003](https://datalibertarian.in/babuwatch/incident/CW-2020-0003)

## Report card

By judgment dated 21 January 2020 in W.A. No. 3806 of 2019 and C.M.P. No. 24031 of 2019, the Madras High Court (Coram: A. P. Sahi, Subramonium Prasad, JJ.) returned findings adverse to the M. Kalifulla (Inspector of Police), and directed payment of compensation of Rs 1 lakh (Rs 1,00,000).

- Register number: TN 57 CW 0016
- Case reference: W.A. No. 3806 of 2019 and C.M.P. No. 24031 of 2019
- Court and date: Madras High Court (Coram: A. P. Sahi, Subramonium Prasad, JJ.), 21 January 2020
- Officer(s) at the material time: M. Kalifulla (Inspector of Police)
- Present service status: Not ascertained from the cited sources.
- Provisions invoked: Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860; Section 30 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
- Finding of the Court (extract): “So it is clear from the evidence of P.Ws 1 to 6 that the accused had committed an offence under Section 324 IPC r/w 30 of Human Rights Act.” (at para 6 (Sessions Court finding reproduced by Division Bench))
- Verdict, sentence and quantum: Adverse finding + compensation. Sentence: compensation only. Compensation: Rs 1 lakh (Rs 1,00,000).
- Present status of the proceedings: No further proceedings are recorded in the cited sources; the judgment is the concluded position shown.
- Source orders: [Judgment / order (primary source)](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/7421222/); [Permanent link to this record](https://datalibertarian.in/babuwatch/incident/CW-2020-0003)

**Record:** CW-2020-0003 (compiler id CWC-0492); case SWCUSTOD-014
**Title:** The State of Tamil Nadu Sholavandan Man
**Court:** Madras High Court; judges: A. P. Sahi; Subramonium Prasad
**Case number / citation:** W.A. No. 3806 of 2019 and C.M.P. No. 24031 of 2019
**Judgment:** 2020-01-21 (2020, day precision)
**Incident date:** 2003-04-17 (2003)
**Place:** Madurai, Tamil Nadu; city town: Sholavandan; police station or unit: Kadupatti Police Station; Sholavandan Police Station; Samayanallur Police Station; force: state_police
**Category:** Violence & unlawful detention
**Sub-category:** custodial torture
**Outcome:** Adverse finding + compensation (adverse_finding_compensation)
**Sections:** IPC 324; Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 s.30
**Officers (gated display forms):** M. Kalifulla (Inspector of Police) (2 in record)
**Victims:** Sholavandan man (1 in record)
**Sentence / compensation:** compensation only; Rs 1 lakh (Rs 1,00,000)
**Sentence type:** compensation only (compensation_only)

The Madras High Court Division Bench dismissed the State appeal against the Single Judge order dated 2 July 2012 awarding Rs 1 lakh to taxi driver \[name withheld\]. The Court recorded that a Sholavandan man was called to Kadupatti police station on 17 April 2003 for enquiry into a missing-girl case and was repeatedly beaten, including having his right thumb tied and fractured, until 21-22 April 2003. The Court noted the Principal District and Sessions Judge had already convicted Inspector M. Kalifulla under Section 324 IPC read with Section 30 of the Human Rights Act. Holding the State vicariously liable and that public-law compensation is additional to criminal-court relief, the Court upheld the Rs 1 lakh award. Matters not addressed in the cited judgment text are not recorded here.

> So it is clear from the evidence of P.Ws 1 to 6 that the accused had committed an offence under Section 324 IPC r/w 30 of Human Rights Act.

**Sources (3):** [indiankanoon.org](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/7421222/); [livelaw.in](https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-369441.pdf); [livelaw.in](https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/custodial-torture-madras-hc-upholds-the-decision-of-sessions-court-to-award-one-lakh-compensation-to-the-victim-151953)
**Verification:** V2 · Externally reported
**Review:** Solo Staff combined review (one combined attestation) — not yet recorded
**admin category:** brutality
**admin subcategory:** custodial_torture
**allegations:** {'category': 'Custodial torture', 'primary': True, 'position': 'Material fact supported', 'position_explainer': 'Reliable material supports a specifically documented fact relevant to that allegation, not necessarily the full allegation, causation, intent, unlawfulness, or responsibility.', 'official_finding_relation': 'supports allegation'}
**anonymised:** False
**court quote para:** 6 (Sessions Court finding reproduced by Division Bench)
**display title redacted:** The State of Tamil Nadu Sholavandan Man
**followup status:** never_checked
**institutional response:** {'date': '2020-01-21', 'action_type': 'Order issued', 'status': 'Concluded', 'authority': 'Madras High Court', 'independence': 'External', 'legal_effect': 'Binding', 'description': 'The Madras High Court recorded adverse findings against police personnel and ordered Rs 100,000.', 'disposition': 'Compensation ordered · Supports allegation (for the compensated wrong only)', 'source': 'W.A. No. 3806 of 2019 and C.M.P. No. 24031 of 2019', 'recheck': 'Not yet re-checked.'}
**link checked per url:** {'url': 'https://indiankanoon.org/doc/7421222/', 'link_checked': None}; {'url': 'https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-369441.pdf', 'link_checked': None}; {'url': 'https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/custodial-torture-madras-hc-upholds-the-decision-of-sessions-court-to-award-one-lakh-compensation-to-the-victim-151953', 'link_checked': None}
**retracted:** {"is_retracted": false}
**service:** police
**source assessment:** {"established": null, "basis": null}
**status:** current
**subcategory display:** custodial torture
**tier:** Tier A — Externally reported or officially recorded
**tier badge:** Externally reported
**tier history:** Tier A — Externally reported or officially recorded
**verdict:** accept
**verdict note:** Division Bench dismissed State writ appeal; Rs 1 lakh compensation for custodial torture upheld.
**verification badge:** V2 · Externally reported
**verification status:** V2
**watch:** babuwatch

Status: Adverse finding + compensation.

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