Madurai Bench orders more special courts for corruption cases

12 November 2026 · English Polity & Governance

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Topics: Polity & Judiciary · UPSC Prelims · TNPSC · SSC · Current Affairs

Current affairs of 12 November 2026 (Shanmugam IAS Academy) – explained for UPSC, TNPSC and other competitive exams

News

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court (Justice B. Pugalendhi, A. Shahul Hameed v. State, Crl.OP(MD) No. 11066 of 2026, reported 10 Nov 2026) found 2,423 Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act cases pending in Tamil Nadu, with exclusive special courts in only 8 districts. It said simply ordering trials to end within two years does not work, and directed that the pending proposal to designate Additional Sessions Courts as PC Act special courts be pursued, and that the State, with the High Court, assess the need for exclusive special courts in other districts and provide infrastructure and staff.

Key facts for the exam

Background

• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988: Section 3 lets the Central or State Government appoint Special Judges by notification to try PC Act offences. The 2018 amendment made bribe-giving an offence and set a two-year target for trials (extendable).
• High Courts in the Constitution: Article 214 – a High Court for each State; Article 231 – a common High Court for two or more States. The Madras High Court was set up in 1862 under the Indian High Courts Act, 1861, along with Calcutta and Bombay.
• Madurai Bench began functioning on 24 July 2004 to hear cases from the southern districts.

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Sources: Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), Crl.OP(MD) No. 11066 of 2026; LiveLaw and Verdictum (10 Nov 2026). Compiled by Shanmugam IAS Academy.

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