| S VENKATESHWARAN |
Mr. K. Saravanan, advocate, notary public and a proud resident of Nanganallur, has gone beyond his calling in ensuring that halls of justice are brought closer to litigants.
Born in Thiruthuraipoondi, he moved to Chennai for his studies and was brought up in Nanganallur.
Between 1971 and 1974, Mr. Saravanan completed his law degree in Madras. He then went to Malaysia and Singapore before enrolling in the Bar Council in 1976. He initially joined senior advocates, Mr. T.R. Ramachandran and Mr. Azhagumalai, as an appellate lawyer. After getting married in 1978, he started independent legal practice.
During the time, the jurisdiction for Nanganallur, Alandur was at Poonamallee. Later, on October 25, 1992, a court was started in Tambaram, but it operated from a small private building. Mr. Saravanan played a key role in obtaining approval for a combined court for Chengalpattu district and securing permission for six courts.
He fought to bring one court to Alandur, despite opposition from fellow advocates who questioned his efforts to establish a court close to his residence. After numerous visits to the Madras High Court and Secretariat, he succeeded in bringing a court to Alandur at Saidapet.
Mr. Suresh was the first magistrate in this court. In 1976, Mr. Saravanan identified an old, abandoned marriage hall as a potential court location. He worked tirelessly to get government approval and personally funded essential furniture, including tables and barricades, to set up the court. In 1997, the court started functioning, and over time, the caseload increased significantly. He then worked towards converting the cum court into a dedicated municipal court and a magistrate court.
Over the years, the judiciary expanded in Tamil Nadu, and 50 new courts were sanctioned. One of these was a fast track court at Alandur, operating as an evening court.
Mr. Saravanan also played a role in bringing a mobile court to the area. Initially, the court functioned from a rented building, but due to high costs, a permanent solution was sought. After consultations with the District Magistrate and Chief Justice Mr. Shanmugam, land was identified at Alandur. The site, previously allotted to CMDA, was re-assigned for court construction, and the present court complex was built.
The complex spans 2.5 acres, with eight functioning courts: Principal District Municipal Court; Additional District Municipal Court; Sub Court; Mahila Court; Enforcement Court; Magistrate Court 1; Magistrate Court 2; Fast Track Court.
Due to the rising number of cases, Mr. Saravanan and his colleagues have proposed an extension of the current court complex, estimated at Rs. 54 crore. The proposal has been postponed twice by the government, but they are determined to push it forward again.
Reflecting on his career, Mr. Saravanan recalled his early days practising from chamber No. 2 at the High Court. He has lived in Nanganallur throughout his career. He married Mrs. Vijaya in 1978 and has two sons. His eldest son, Mr. Vignesh Kannappan, completed his BE at Anna University, pursued his MS in the USA, worked at Microsoft, and is now one of the directors at Amazon. His second son, Karthick Kannappan, studied law in Bengaluru, worked as an advisor at Wipro, later moved to Pune, worked at Infosys, and is currently a senior officer in a private company. Mr. Saravanan is also a proud grandfather of four grandchildren.
Mr. Saravanan shared that he had opportunities to become a judge but chose to continue his legal practice. He fondly recalled his appointment as a notary in 1971 when Mr. Alexander was the Governor of Tamil Nadu. Over the years, he has handled various criminal and civil cases, focusing mainly on civil cases in recent years.
On the issue of media commenting on court judgements, he emphasised that it is illegal to comment on judgements controversially. However, he noted that some social media platforms cross this line. He explained that in certain cases where judges mark judgements as “reportable”, media can discuss them, but they should not criticise or go against the judgement. As lawyers, however, they have the right to appeal against judgements in higher courts.
His final advice to the public was to be cautious when buying or selling property, ensuring all legal verifications are done. He acknowledged that the revenue department has implemented new rules, including biometric verification, to prevent fraud. However, he stressed that legal disputes can still arise and individuals should stay informed and knowledgeable to protect their interests.
At 77 years old, with success for the past 46 years of helping his clients with his firm Saravana Law Associates, Mr. Saravanan remains active and confident in his profession. His dedication to law and his contributions to the judiciary in Alandur and Nanganallur stand as testament to his commitment to justice.
