Chennai, Oct. 23 -- The Madras High Court has quashed criminal proceedings pending before a trial court against a group of people who staged a protest in Theni in February 2024, demanding that Tamil be made an official language of the High Court.

Justice R Vijayakumar passed the order while allowing a petition filed by S Vinoth Raja, seeking to quash the criminal proceedings pending against him and others before the Theni Judicial Magistrate Court.

According to the prosecution, the petitioner and others had unlawfully assembled in Theni district on February 11, 2024, and erected a flex banner demanding the introduction of Tamil as an official language of the High Court. They were also accused of threatening police personnel, obstructing...