The Supreme Court has issued a directive to the Madras High Court, urging a review of its rules to incorporate the State's name in the cause title of criminal cases for enhanced clarity and transparency.

In the course of an appeal challenging a Madras High Court judgment, the Supreme Court noted that the cause title in criminal Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) originating from Tamil Nadu lacks representation of the State's name.

The bench headed by Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Karol pointed out that the State's name in the cause title is not a practice observed in other states across the country.

Senior Advocate S Nagamuthu highlighted that the omission in Tamil Nadu cases was a matter of convention. In response, the Court instructed authorities to assess whether the cause title in criminal appeals from Tamil Nadu should indeed include the State's name. Notably, it was brought to the Court's attention that the cause title in criminal matters in the Madras High Court similarly does not explicitly mention the State as a party, leaving the bench to ponder whether this is a matter of practice or governed by specific rules.

Emphasizing the need for thorough examination, the Court underscored the importance of addressing the issue. Consequently, the Court issued a directive for the Registrar General of the Madras High Court to formally bring the matter to the attention of the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Case Title - Ilamaran versus The State Rep. By The Inspector of Police