D. Sridhar v. The Additional Chief Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 12.01.2024 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY D. Sridhar .. Appellant Vs

1. The Additional Chief Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 1.

2. The Secretary Department of BC, MBC and Minorities Welfare Fort St.George, Chennai - 1.

3. The Commissioner Directorate of Backward Classes Welfare, Chepuak, Chennai - 5.

4. Kali Poongundran .. Respondents Prayer: Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 11.12.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge in Writ Petition No.34261 of 2023.

For the Appellant : Mr.A.L.Franc Paul Asirvadam For the Respondents : Mr.P.Muthukumar State Government Pleader for respondents 1 to 3

JUDGMENT

(Delivered by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) Heard Mr.A.L.Franc Paul Asirvadam, learned counsel for the appellant; and Mr.P.Muthukumar, learned State Government Pleader, for respondents 1 to 3.

2.

The appellant has filed a writ petition, bearing W.P.No.34261 of 2023, seeking directions against respondents 1 to 3 to present the award to the eligible applicant out of the 24 applications submitted for the year 2022. The learned Single Judge dismissed the writ petition. Aggrieved thereby, the present appeal is filed.

3. Learned counsel for the appellant strenuously contends that 24 applications were received by the authorities for grant of

Thanthai Periyar Award for Social Justice. The appellant along with 23 others had applied. The fourth respondent had not applied for the award. However, the award is given to the fourth respondent. No details are also given of the work that has been done by the fourth respondent. The appellant has given the list of the various works done by the appellant. The said award is given to honour the person who has worked for promoting social justice. The learned Single Judge did not consider all these aspects.

4. It has been observed by the learned Single Judge that the fourth respondent had given an application on 25.10.2022. The same was also placed before the learned Single Judge. The learned Single Judge observed that the same would allay the apprehension/allegation of the appellant that the fourth respondent has not applied for the award at all.

5. The appellant may have done good work. In a writ appeal, we are not going to enter into the arena of the amount of work done by each applicant.

6. No rules or regulations are placed on record to suggest that while giving the award the rules or regulations and/or the procedure has not been followed.

7. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that there are no guidelines laid down for giving the said award. We are in an appeal against the order passed in a writ petition, wherein such a prayer was not made. The said aspect can be considered in an appropriate petition.

In the light of the above, the writ appeal stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, C.M.P.No.1114 of 2024 is closed.

(S.V.G., CJ.) (D.B.C., J.) 12.01.2024 Index :

Yes/No Yes/No sasi

To:

1. The Additional Chief Secretary Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai - 1.

2. The Secretary Department of BC, MBC and Minorities Welfare Fort St.George, Chennai - 1.

3. The Commissioner Directorate of Backward Classes Welfare, Chepuak, Chennai - 5.

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY,J.

(sasi) 12.01.2024