Supreme Court Sharply Criticizes Tamil Nadu's 'Job-for-Cash' Scam. In a case involving over 2,000 accused, the court deemed judicial intervention necessary and sought a response from the state government.
Tamil Job Scam: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sharply criticized the job-for-cash scam that has surfaced in Tamil Nadu. The court described the scam as one of the largest criminal cases in India, involving over 2,000 accused. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Justice J.K. Bagchi said that a space like a cricket stadium would be needed to accommodate so many accused, as a normal courtroom would be inadequate for the task.
Questions Raised About Former Minister V. Senthil Balaji's Role
Former DMK Minister V. Senthil Balaji's name has prominently emerged in this case. The court stated that it appears the state government attempted to quietly conclude the cases against Balaji. However, judicial intervention halted this process, and now the matter has come to light. The court said that in such cases, when power and money wield influence, doubts arise as to whether government prosecutors can deliver justice fairly.
Court's Deep Observation: Who are the Victims?
The Supreme Court also stated that those who are technically offenders may actually be victims. Justice Surya Kant said that in many cases, it has been observed that people gave bribes in the hope of getting jobs, but they have now been made accused. The court questioned whether these people could be considered witnesses instead of accused, so that the case could be resolved quickly and the real culprits could be punished.
The Plight of Bribe-Givers is Concerning
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan told the court that many people had even mortgaged their jewelry to get government jobs. In some cases, mothers and grandmothers sold their jewelry to try and get their children employed. The court said that making such people accused would prolong the judicial process and allow the real criminals to escape. The court has sought a clear response from the state government on whether these individuals can be placed in the category of witnesses.
No Denial of Delay in Judicial Process
The Supreme Court also emphasized that until the hearing of this scam is completed, lower courts should not release any accused. The court directed the state government to take special steps to ensure fairness, as delays in a trial of such magnitude could affect the core objective of justice.
Court's Displeasure Over the State Government's Role
During the hearing, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the state government's attitude. The court said that it appears the government is working towards weakening the case. The court questioned why concrete action has not been taken against the main accused in such a large scam. The court warned that if fairness is not maintained, the Supreme Court will have to intervene directly.
Included in the Country's Largest Criminal Cases
The scale of this scam is so large that the Supreme Court did not hesitate to call it the largest scam in India's history. With over 2,000 accused and over 500 witnesses, this trial has become a major challenge for the judiciary as well. The court said that it is necessary to expedite the justice process in such cases so that victims can get relief in a timely manner.
