The Court was hearing an appeal filed by the ED against the Madras High Court’s decision to stay the ED’s summons to the five district collectors in Tamil Nadu.
The High Court had opined that the ED’s summons appeared to be part of a fishing expedition and that, prima facie, the ED had no jurisdiction to issue the summons to any of the district collectors.
The ED challenged this High Court order and in February this year, the Supreme Court lifted the High Court’s stay. At the time, Supreme Court also remarked that it was strange and unusual for the Tamil Nadu government to have moved the High Court in the first place against the ED summons.
Last month, the top court also expressed strong disapproval over the collectors’ failure to appear before the ED, despite having been directed to adhere to the summons.
Source: Barandbench
