The Puducherry government has reversed its stand and decided not to file an appeal against the acquittal of the Sankaracharyas of the Kanchi Math by a trial court in the Sankararaman murder case.
The Principal District Court, Puducherry, had acquitted all the accused on November 23, 2013. The Puducherry government was not inclined to file an appeal in the High Court within the 90-day time limit. Subsequently, the former Lt. Governor, Virender Kataria, gave sanction for the filing of an appeal, though, after he was sacked, he said he was not properly briefed about the file sent to him.
Following Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi’s strong opinion against an appeal, the territorial administration has decided not to contest the acquittal in the Madras High Court.
In his opinion to the Union Home Ministry, Mr. Rohatgi had stated that there were no sufficient grounds for filing an appeal against the acquittal of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi and Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi.
Top sources here said that the government recently issued an order (GO) on the basis of the Attorney General’s assessment, superseding the earlier one issued after Mr. Kataria gave his assent.
“There is no need for filing appeal in the case after an examination of the matter in depth,” the new GO states.
