We, the undersigned, beseech the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the invocation of the Goondas act against the accused in the Kanchipuram Sankarraman murder case.

We respectfully submit that the assemblage of multiple charges against those accused who have no prior criminal record, in order to invoke the Goondas Act against them, is a clear-cut misuse of authority that undermines both the spirit and the substance of that law. The State Governments baseless action serves only to unjustly curtail the essential liberties of the accused by hampering their access to bail, as provided under prevailing law.

Tamil Nadu law contemplates a goonda as one who habitually commits dangerous activities....in any manner prejudicial to maintenance of public order. One of the Kanchi accused now branded a 'goonda' by the Tamil Nadu Government, Sri Sundaresa Iyer, is a respected senior citizen, who has served in positions of trust without a blemish to his reputation. On what basis did the Tamil Nadu Government invoke the Goondas Act against heretofore law-abiding citizens like Sri Sundaresa Iyer?

We urge the National Human Rights Commission to demand, on behalf of the people, an answer to this question.