New Delhi | June 18, 2025
The Supreme Court has expressed strong disapproval of both the arrest order by the Madras High Court and the immediate suspension of Tamil Nadu’s the ADGP H.M. Jayaram. The apex court, led by Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan, described these actions as “shocking” and “demoralising”, particularly toward a senior police officer.
High-Level Criticism from the Bench
• The Supreme Court observed it was undignified for the state to remove a high-ranking official merely for cooperating with court inquiries.
• The arrest directive—based on statements of alleged suspects in a missing-minor case—was termed excessive and devoid of logical justification.
• The bench instructed the Tamil Nadu government to file a status report by Thursday on whether it will revoke Jayaram’s suspension.
Incident & Arrest Context
• The controversy began when the Madras High Court, responding to allegations in a case concerning the disappearance of a minor from the home of an inter-caste couple, directed the police to arrest Jayaram—accused of stalling investigations.
• He was taken into custody, held for about 24 hours, and later released, but the suspension order from the state remained in place.
Petition in the Supreme Court
• Jayaram challenged both the legality of his arrest and the suspension order, arguing that there was no persuasive reasoning backing either move.
• He emphasized that he had fully cooperated with all investigative and judicial processes.
Concern Supreme Court’s Observation
State overreach “Arresting a senior officer without reason is demoralising.”
Respect for ranks Suspension without explanation sets a degrading tone.
Judicial balance High courts must ensure arrest orders are justified.
Administrative duty Police service rules emphasize fair treatment even during investigations.
• The Tamil Nadu government must clarify its stance on the suspension and justify its decision.
• The Supreme Court, having transferred the matter to itself, will review both arrest and suspension actions on legal merits and procedural propriety.
Case Details
• Case Title: H.M. Jayaram v. State of Tamil Nadu
