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Madras High CourtWP/1186/2026disposed of with direction

Lawrence William Alphonse v. The Chiefgeneral Manager

2026-02-23Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 23-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI WP No. 1186 of 2026 and W.M.P.Nos.1389, 1391 & 1392 of 2026 Lawrence William Alphonse ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1.The Chief General Manager, 2.The Deputy General Manager, 3.The Assistant General Manager, (HR) 4.The Regional Manager, Regional Business Office (14761), 5.The Manager H.R and Administration, Regional Business Office (14761),

..Respondent(s) Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for all relevant connecting records relating to the Impugned Transfer Order issued in No.RM-1/11/HR/2526/1979 dated 07.11.2025, Impugned First Notice inNo.RM-1/11/HR-2203, dated 03.12.205 and consequential Impugned Proceedings in No.RM-11/HR/2526/2590, dated 23.12.2025 passed by the 4th Respondent herein and quash the same as arbitrary, unreasonable, improper, illegal, violating their own Rules and Regulations of the Respondents, thereby directing the Respondents to transfer the petitioner as Assistant Manager (S), SBI, as RMRU of RBO 1, Salem or in any of the nearest Branches within Salem Town enabling the petitioner to contiue his medical treatment and children's study, consequently dropt the impugned proceedings issued in No.RN-1/11/HR-2203, dated 03.12.2025 and RM-1/11/HR-26/2590, dated 23.12.2025 passed by the 4th Respondent, within the time frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.K.Venkatramani, Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Srinivasan For Respondent(s):

Mr.C.Mohan for M/s.King & Patridge for SBI

ORDER

Aggrieved by the transfer order 07.11.2025 issued by the 2nd respondent and other consequential orders, the petitioner is before this Court.

2. Brief facts that are necessary for disposal of this Writ Petition are as follows:

The petitioner, pursuant to the transfer order dated 25.06.2025 issued at his own request, was posted as Assistant Manager at State Bank of India, RBOI, Salem. However, within a period of 4 1⁄2 months, he was again transferred from Salem Region to ACB, Ramamoorthy Nagar Branch, by the impugned order dated 07.11.2025 which is situated far away from the present place of posting. Due to certain medical ailments, the petitioner was unable to join duty at the transferred place and therefore, availed medical leave from 24.11.2025 to 15.12.2025 and 16.12.2025 to 31.12.2025. In the meantime, without considering the medical leave, a notice dated 03.12.2025 was issued stating that if the petitioner failed to join duty as per the transfer order dated 07.11.

2025, the same would be treated as voluntary Resignation from service without any further notice. Though the petitioner had submitted his explanation to the said notice, another proceedings dated 23.12.2025 was issued to the petitioner treating the medical leave during the relevant period as unauthorized absence stating that the transfer order had been effected strictly in accordance with relevant rules. Thereafter, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 29.12.2025 to the respondents requesting to transfer him back to the original place of posting and to drop the impugned proceedings however, the said representation did not evoke any response. Hence, the present Writ Petition has been filed.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that, pursuant to

the direction of this Court, the respondents have produced a list of officers all over the State of Tamil Nadu who are eligible for transfer and that the petitioner has expressed his willingness to be transferred to the branch mentioned at serial no 29, bearing branch code no.15704, namely ACP Salaipudur, Coimbatore. Therefore, this Court may issue a direction to the respondents to issue necessary transfer orders to the petitioner enabling him to join duty at ACP Salaipudur, Coimbatore.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent submitted that necessary transfer orders will be issued within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. He further submitted that the period during which the matter was pending before this Court and the period of non joining of the petitioner in service from the date of transfer till the date of joining in the new post will be regularized in terms of the banking regulations. He further prayed that this case shall not be treated as precedent.

5. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on either side and taking note of the fact that the petitioner has expressed his willingness to be transferred to ACP Salaipudur, Coimbatore (branch code no.15704), there shall be a direction to the respondents to issue appropriate transfer order to the petitioner to ACP Salaipudur, Coimbatore within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The respondents are

further directed to regularize the period during which the matter was pending before this Court and the period of non-joining of the petitioner in service from the date of transfer till the date of joining in the new post in accordance with the applicable banking regulations. Further, it is made clear that this order shall not be cited as a precedent.

6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 23-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order NHS To 1.The Chief General Manager, 2.The Deputy General Manager, M.DHANDAPANI, J.

NHS 3.The Assistant General Manager, (HR) 4.The Regional Manager, Regional Business Office (14761), 5.The Manager H.R and Administration, Regional Business Office (14761), WP No. 1186 of 2026 and W.M.P.Nos.1389, 1391 & 1392 of 2026 23.02.2026