Ex-Madras HC Justice V Sivagnanam untraceable in Nepal

way2barak, Aug 31: The Madras Bar Association (MBA) on Monday, wrote to the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, seeking “urgent” intervention from the Union government to trace former Madras High Court judge, justice V Sivagnanam, who has been untraceable in Nepal since August 26, after flash floods hit the country.

The MBA wrote to CJI and the Prime Minister’s Office, urging that efforts to trace the retired judge be “intensified.”

In a letter signed by MBA president VA Kamalanathan and secretary J Pothiraj, the Bar urged the CJI to direct the Union government to treat the matter as “urgent and of highest priority” and to take “all possible effort and measures” to search for justice Sivagnanam.

On August 30, the Delhi Tamil Advocates Association (DTAA) too wrote to CJI, urging him to intervene and ask government authorities to help trace the retired judge.

According to the letters, justice Sivagnanam was travelling in Nepal with fellow pilgrims when flash floods struck. While persons travelling in another bus were rescued, he could not be reached. He last contacted his wife on August 26.

The Delhi Bar body said the rescued pilgrims provided information about the location of his bus.

“The persons travelling in another bus, who were rescued near the APF Nepal Border Outpost at Timure, have informed the family that Justice Sivagnanam’s bus was only about 100–200 metres away from theirs. The family and our Association are, therefore, gravely concerned about his safety and whereabouts,” the DTAA’s letter reads.