In a judgment filled with cricketing metaphors, a Madras High Court bench delivered a final verdict on a 16-year-old corporate battle, dismissing a petition with sharp critique and poetic candor. The case, marked by prolonged litigation and intricate maneuvering, ended with the judge comparing the petitioner’s tactics to an unwinnable match on a treacherous pitch.
The dispute stemmed from a corporate deal gone sour, involving Cheran Enterprises and its former foreign investors, who had injected ₹79 crore into the business. When the partnership failed, the matter escalated through various courts, with Cheran challenging financial obligations and regulatory issues at every turn. Despite repeated rulings against it, the company pursued new angles, each dismissed as futile by the courts.
In his farewell ruling, the judge described the legal strategies as “childish and pretentious,” comparing them to tactics from a novice cricket team. He noted that Cheran’s moves consistently unraveled, culminating in a desperate plea that stood no chance of success.
“Despite the scars of earlier defeats, only the petitioner and his teammates believe their strategy may still work,” the judgment quipped, likening their efforts to chasing an impossible run rate in a doomed match.
The judgment also reflected on fairness and equity, emphasizing that strategies built on unfairness are destined to fail. The judge’s words underscored the enduring values of the judiciary, drawing a parallel between cricket’s spirit and the principles of justice.
As his judicial career concluded, the judge closed with a poignant farewell, noting that the institution remains eternal while individuals pass through its halls. With poetic grace, he saluted the courtroom one last time, likening his departure to the setting sun on a cricket ground after a long and storied match.
This ruling serves as both a decisive end to a protracted legal battle and a reminder of the timeless principles that guide justice, delivered with the wit and wisdom of a judge stepping into retirement.
