The Madras Bar Association (MBA) on Monday wrote to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, seeking urgent intervention from the Union government to help trace former Madras High Court judge Justice V Sivagnanam, who has remained untraceable in Nepal since August 26 following devastating flash floods that struck the country. The letter represents a formal appeal from within the legal community for governmental assistance in locating the retired judge amid ongoing uncertainty about his whereabouts and safety.

The MBA's communication follows a similar appeal made a day earlier, on August 30, when the Delhi Tamil Advocates Association (DTAA) also wrote to the Chief Justice, urging him to direct government authorities to assist in tracing the missing retired judge. The back-to-back appeals from two separate legal associations underscore the growing concern within India's legal fraternity over Justice Sivagnanam's prolonged absence and the lack of confirmed information regarding his condition or location since the flooding began.

Justice V Sivagnanam served as a judge of the Madras High Court before his retirement, and his disappearance in Nepal has drawn significant attention from legal professionals across the country, particularly within Tamil Nadu's legal community, given his prior standing within the state's judiciary. The circumstances surrounding his presence in Nepal at the time of the floods, along with details of his travel itinerary, have not been fully disclosed in available reports.

Also Read: CJI Surya Kant Flags Scale of Global Money Laundering at Cambridge

The flash floods that struck Nepal beginning around August 26 have reportedly caused significant disruption and damage across affected regions of the country, complicating search and rescue efforts for those who may have been caught in the disaster, including foreign nationals traveling in the country at the time. Natural disasters of this scale often hamper communication and mobility in affected areas, making it difficult for families, associates, and authorities to establish contact with individuals who may be stranded or displaced.

Both the Madras Bar Association and the Delhi Tamil Advocates Association have called on the Chief Justice of India to leverage his office to prompt coordinated action from relevant government authorities, potentially including India's diplomatic missions in Nepal, in order to expedite efforts to locate Justice Sivagnanam. As of the latest available information, it remains unclear whether Indian authorities have made further progress in tracing the retired judge, and the legal community's continued appeals suggest that concern over his welfare remains high as search efforts continue.

Also Read: Protests Over CJI Surya Kant Invite Lead NLSIU To Cancel Bengaluru Convocation