By Express press service

CHENNAI: Angered by the lack of representation on behalf of the State Transport Corporation (STC) in cases involving it, the Madras High Court struck down the company and ordered the appointment of a special agent to liaise with solicitors and government lawyers.

Referring to the failure of a lawyer to appear for a case involving the Villupuram Division of the STC recently, Judge R Suresh Kumar said that such failure is noticed very often and there is no representation for the company from various regions/divisions on numerous occasions. Fault for the authorities of the STC, the judge declared that such a failure would end up hindering the administration of justice.

“If this type of default occurs on a continuous basis, it will impede the dispensation of justice because no purpose can be achieved by this court without the assistance of counsel on behalf of the STC,” the court said.
The judge noted that it was unclear whether the newly appointed permanent attorneys were aware of the cases or whether the legal unit of the transport company had contacted them and entrusted them with the documents of the case.

He directed the managing director of the company’s Villupuram division to appoint a ‘coordinating officer’ specifically to oversee the handling of cases to ensure that in each case the company is properly and effectively represented by the one of the appointed permanent lawyers. Judge Suresh Kumar further ordered the court registry to serve the copy of the order on all the doctors in the divisions of the society.

CHENNAI: Angered by the lack of representation on behalf of the State Transport Corporation (STC) in cases involving it, the Madras High Court struck down the company and ordered the appointment of a special agent to liaise with solicitors and government lawyers. Referring to the failure of a lawyer to appear for a case involving the Villupuram Division of the STC recently, Judge R Suresh Kumar said that such failure is noticed very often and there is no representation for the company from various regions/divisions on numerous occasions. Fault for the authorities of the STC, the judge declared that such a failure would end up hindering the administration of justice. “If this type of default occurs on a continuous basis, it will impede the dispensation of justice because no purpose can be achieved by this court without the assistance of counsel on behalf of the STC,” the court said. The judge noted that it was unclear whether the newly appointed permanent lawyers knew about the cases or whether the legal unit of the transport company had contacted them and entrusted them with the documents of the case. He directed the managing director of the company’s Villupuram division to appoint a ‘coordinating officer’ specifically to oversee the handling of cases to ensure that in each case the company is properly and effectively represented by the one of the appointed permanent lawyers. Judge Suresh Kumar further ordered the court registry to serve the copy of the order on all the doctors in the divisions of the society.