HC directs EOW Court to dispose of Jaya's discharge petition

Chennai, Nov 30 (UNI) The Madras High Court today directed the Economic Offences Court-I to dispose of the discharge petition filed by AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa within three weeks in connection with non-filing of Wealth Tax returns.

Mr Justice K Mohanram gave the above direction when Ms Jayalalithaa's petition, seeking a direction to stay the trial procedure before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Court in connection with the non-filing of Wealth Tax returns came up for hearing.

The Judge directed the EOW court to record the evidence of witnesses after disposing Ms Jayalalithaa's discharge petition.

He also directed the petitioner and prosecution to cooperate with the trial court in disposing of the petition within the stipulated time without any adjournments.

In her writ petition, Ms Jayalalithaa submitted that the EOW-I had commenced the trial, before passing orders on the discharge petition filed by her.

She also sought a direction to restrain the trial court from proceeding with the record of evidences.

It might be recalled that the Income Tax Department had filed the case against Ms Jayalalaithaa before the EOW court for not filing Wealth Tax returns for the year 1993-94.

In the year 2001, Ms Jayalalithaa had obtained an interim stay in the case, which was subsequently vacated by the High Court on a petition by the IT Department.

Following the vacation, Ms Jaylalithaa had filed the discharge petition.

UNI