S.Salam Khan v. The State Rep. By.,

O RDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking to quash the proceedings in Crime No.2205 of 2020, pending on the file of the 1st respondent police.

¶2The brief facts of the case are that on 06.12.2020, the petitioner and others, violating Section 144 Cr.P.C., issued by the Central and State Governments to prevent the spread of the corona virus, had unlawfully assembled, without obtaining any permission, conducted a protest and raised slogans seeking "Justice for Babri Masjid". On account of the same, the aforesaid case in Crime No.2205 of 2020 was registered by the respondent Police for the offences under Sections 143, 269 & 270 of IPC read with Sections 2 & 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 and Section 51(b) of the Disaster Management Act.

¶3Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the facts of the instant case are similar to the facts of the cases in Jeevanandham and others vs. The Inspector of Police, Velayuthampalayam Police Station, Karur District reported in (2018 2 LW (Crl) 606) and Sri Raja vs Inspector of Police, Sivakasi Town Police Station Virudhunagar District and others (Crl.O.P(MD) No.7922 of 2019, decided on 30.08.2019), in which the proceedings were quashed. Hence, he prayed to quash the proceedings pending against the petitioner.

¶4Learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing for the respondent Police endorses the aforesaid submission.

¶5Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

¶6In view of the above, this Court is of the opinion that the above said decisions would apply on all fours to the present case and that no useful purpose will be served by keeping the impugned proceedings pending and the same is liable to be quashed.

¶7Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands allowed and the proceedings in Crime No.2205 of 2020, on the file of the respondent police is hereby quashed in toto.

19.02.2026 Note: Issue order copy on 20.02.2026 Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking order rpl To

1.The Inspector of Police, Vaniyambadi Town Police Station, Thirupathur District.

2.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA . J, rpl

19.02.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 19.02.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA S.Salam Khan ... Petitioner -Vs- 1.The State Rep. by., The Inspector of Police, Vaniyambadi Town Police Station, Thirupathur District. Crime No.2205/2020 2.Sargunakumar Village Adminstrative Officer, Ammurpettai, Vaniyambadi, Thirupathur District. ... Respondents Prayer : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of B.N.S.S, to call for the records FIR in Crime No.2205 of 2020, dated 06.12.2020 on the file of the 1st Respondent Police and quash the same as against the petitioner. For Petitioner : Mr.H.Thameen Ansari For R1 : Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Crl.side)