CRL OP No. 22473 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 4 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 13-08-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL OP No. 22473 of 2026 Ramya ..Petitioner Vs 1. The State rep by Inspector of Police Edaikkal Police Station, Kallakurichi District. Crime No.140 of 2026. 2. Elayaraja ..Respondents Prayer : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to direct the learned Principal District Judge, Kallakurichi, to consider and dispose of the regular bail application to be filed by the petitioner on the same date of her surrender, on its own merits and in accordance with law, in Connection with Crime No. 140 of 2026 on the file of the 1st Respondent Police, registered for the alleged offences punishable under Section 296(b), 115(2), 351(2) of the BNS, 2023 and Sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), and 3(2) (va) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. For Petitioner: Mr.M.Murali For Respondents: Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar Counsel for Government of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) for R1 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 22473 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 4 ORDER This petition is filed for a direction to the Principal District Judge, Kallakurichi, to consider the petitioner’s bail petition on the same day of her surrender in connection with Crime No.140 of 2026, since the offences are pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 2. In view of the specific bar contained under Section 18 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and also taking into consideration of the possibility of misuse of the salutary and laudable object of the legislation against innocent persons, there shall be a direction to the Principal District Judge, Kallakurichi, to consider the petitioner’s bail application, preferably on the same day of her surrender in connection with Crime No. 140 of 2026 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, after affording due opportunity of hearing to the victim as contemplated under Section 15(A) of the SC/ST Act. The petitioner shall surrender before the concerned jurisdictional Court within a period of fifteen days from the date of the receipt of a copy of this Order. 3. It is needless to say that the Court below while disposing the bail petition shall look into the gravity of the offence, previous antecedents of the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 22473 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 4 petitioner and pass orders. Mere direction issued by this Court to consider the bail petition on the same day does not amount to consider it favourably. 4. With the above direction, the Criminal Original Petition stands disposed of. 13-08-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No LPP To 1. The Principal District Judge, Kallakurichi. 2. The Inspector of Police Edaikkal Police Station, Kallakurichi District. 3. The Public Prosecutor, High Cour, Madras https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis CRL OP No. 22473 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 4 G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN J. LPP CRL OP No. 22473 of 2026 13-08-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis