The Madras High Court has acknowledged allegations against a Sub-judge in Sathyamangalam who sent a memo to a court staff for not washing his clothes properly, said the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.

The High Court has asked for a report on this matter. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul told The Hindu, “We have taken cognisance of the matter and we will look into all the issues. A report on this will be ready in about two to three days after which we will see what needs to be done.”

A circular issued in 1990 permits judicial officers to utilise the service of office assistants for domestic work, according to The Hindu.

Former Justice of the Madras High Court, K Chandru had told The News Minute, “The problem is that the work of the Office Assistants (Peons or Attenders, or basic staff), when they are sent for house duties of a Judicial Officer, is not clearly defined. Though one believes that they are sent for only to do office duties in the residences of judicial officers, it is a prevalent practice that they are made to do all kinds of work.  Complaints are made only infrequently, like the present complaint at Sathyamangalam.” 

However, the Sathyamangalam Bar Association president Ajitkumar said that this matter had been settled a month ago and it was being hyped without a reason.

The Tamil Nadu Employees Association had asked for a departmental enquiry against the Sub-judge for issuing the memo. They also protested at Sathyamangalam criticizing the judge.