Madras High Court flags 2,423 pending corruption cases in Tamil Nadu, asks state to weigh more special courts

The Madras High Court has asked the Tamil Nadu government to examine setting up more special courts after noting 2,423 pending corruption cases across the state, LiveLaw reported on 10 November 2026. Justice B Pugalendhi of the Madurai Bench said the pendency “cannot be viewed as an ordinary workload”, according to Bar and Bench. The Madras High Court corruption cases order also covers 61 pending cases in Puducherry.

What the Madras High Court corruption cases order says

Justice Pugalendhi passed the order on a petition by A Shahul Hameed, who faces trial under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. Hameed argued that charges were framed against him in 2023 but only two witnesses had been examined in the past three years, LiveLaw reported.

Finding a wider institutional issue, the court impleaded the State Home Secretary, the Director of Prosecution and the Registrar General on its own motion and sought reports on pendency, Verdictum reported.

Key numbers

• 2,423: pending Prevention of Corruption Act cases in Tamil Nadu as on 30 June 2026, per Bar and Bench.
• 61: pending cases in Puducherry, per Verdictum.
• Eight: districts with exclusive courts of this kind, per the first report.
• 30: the remaining districts, where sessions courts handle such cases alongside regular work, per Verdictum.
• 2 years: the period within which Section 4(4) says a trial should be concluded, per LiveLaw.

What the court asked the state to do about special courts

“In respect of the districts where exclusive Special Courts under the Prevention of Corruption Act are not functioning, the Government, in consultation with the High Court, shall examine the necessity of establishing such exclusive Special Courts,” the bench said, as quoted by LiveLaw. Infrastructure and supporting staff for the High Court administration must also come from the state.

Together with the Director of Prosecution, the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption must make adequate prosecuting personnel available, so trials do not stall for want of prosecuting officers, LiveLaw said.

Background: The Prevention of Corruption Act two-year rule

Section 4(4) of the Act requires day-to-day trials, as far as practicable, with an endeavour to conclude within two years, the legal news site said. A proposal to designate more sessions courts under the Act is already pending with the High Court administration.

Corruption cases, Justice Pugalendhi observed, cannot be treated as an additional responsibility of principal district and sessions judges. For another ruling on public servants, see our report on the Supreme Court’s deemed suspension rule.

What happens next for Madras High Court corruption cases

Consulting the High Court on which districts need exclusive courts is the state’s next step, LiveLaw reported. No deadline is given. A submission recorded in the order says 80 cases are pending before the court hearing Hameed’s case, which was transferred in 2025, and that it will be dealt with expeditiously.