The Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench has sought details on who recommended the purchase of books from Agal Vilakku Publications for Coimbatore’s E.V.R. Arivulagam, as proceedings continued over alleged irregularities in the procurement process. The court has given the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption time until November 16 to register a case and directed the state to report the action it has taken.
A petition before the court sought a Central Bureau of Investigation or Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department inquiry into the purchase of books for the facility. It also sought contempt proceedings against Tamil Nadu Higher Education Secretary Gopal and Director of Public Libraries Shajivana, alleging that a 2024 court order had not been implemented.
The case concerns allegations that books described in the report as fake publications from certain publishers had been purchased and kept at E.V.R. Arivulagam in Coimbatore. The books were subsequently removed and placed in safe custody, according to the report. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption is investigating the matter.
During the hearing on November 11, Justices G.R. Swaminathan and M.D. Sumathy asked who had recommended the purchase of books from Agal Vilakku Publications. The Public Libraries Department told the court that a 112-member committee had recommended that the books be purchased.
The Tamil Nadu government said the decision had been discussed by a recommendation committee, a procurement committee and a higher-level committee before it was finalised. The court was also told that the existence of four committees in the process would make it possible to identify where Agal Vilakku Publications had been included, according to the report.
The proceedings have placed the administrative chain behind public-library procurement under scrutiny. The court’s questions focus not only on the books that were purchased but also on the recommendation and approval process through which the transaction moved. The matter therefore involves the operation of public institutions responsible for selecting and acquiring reading material, as well as the documentation needed to establish responsibility.
The report said four bank accounts linked to Agal Vilakku Publications had been frozen. Mohan of Agal Vilakku Publications was questioned on November 7. The Tamil Nadu government’s chief criminal law officer told the court that more time was required to register a first information report.
The court granted time until November 16 for the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to register a case concerning the alleged irregularities in book procurement. It also directed the government to file a report on the steps taken by the state and adjourned the matter for further hearing.
