• Justice Swaminathan praises Mann Ki Baat for highlighting grassroots achievements.
• Tamil edition Manathin Kural was reportedly rejected for library procurement.
• Perumal Murugan flags alleged irregularities in public library book collections.
• DVAC enquiry initiated; three linked bank accounts frozen.

GG News Bureau
Madurai, 13th Nov: The Madras High Court has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio programme Mann Ki Baat for bringing the achievements of people from remote parts of the country into the national spotlight, during proceedings in a case involving alleged irregularities in public library book procurement.

The observation was made by Justice G R Swaminathan in a Division Bench order passed on November 11 at the court’s Madurai Bench. The bench also comprised Justice M D Sumathi.

Describing the remark as a “lighter remark”, Justice Swaminathan said the programme had helped bring lesser-known achievements to public attention. He also referred to Thomas Gray’s 18th-century poem Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, which reflects on talent and greatness remaining unrecognised in remote places.

The reference to Mann Ki Baat also had a direct connection with the case. The judge recorded that an expert committee member had informed the court that Manathin Kural, the Tamil translation of the Prime Minister’s radio programme, had been recommended for procurement but was rejected and did not reach public library shelves.

When the bench sought clarification from the Director of Public Libraries, the order recorded that “there was only silence” in response.

The case concerns allegations raised by acclaimed Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, who served on a committee recommending books for the Periyar Science Centre and Library. In an article, Murugan flagged alleged discrepancies in the collection at Coimbatore’s Periyar Arivulagam, including overpriced books, factual errors, questionable historical claims and titles attributed to unfamiliar or apparently fictitious authors.

He also questioned the credentials of certain publishers and alleged that some books appeared to contain AI-generated material, with prices higher than those of comparable publications.

The allegations triggered a political dispute between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). School Education Minister A Rajmohan blamed the previous DMK government, alleging that the questionable books had been procured during its tenure.

The DMK disputed the timeline of the purchases and accused the TVK government of shifting responsibility. It also approached the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), seeking an investigation.

The School Education Department subsequently referred the matter to the DVAC for an enquiry against unidentified public servants. During the court proceedings, the prosecutor informed the bench that a formal First Information Report would be registered and placed before it ahead of the next hearing.

The court also recorded that three bank accounts linked to the matter had been frozen, with a reported combined balance of around ₹22 lakh.