S.Nagarajan, v. The Principal Secretary To Government,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 29-01-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI S.Nagarajan, Town Planning Officer Grade-I) (Now Redesignated as) Assistant City Planner, Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, (Under Suspension), Tambaram, Chennai 600 045. ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director of Municipal Administration, No.75, Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 600 028.
3. The Director of Vigilance and Anti corruption, No.293, M.K.N.Road, Ramapuram, Collectors Nagar, Alandur, Chennai 600 016.
4. The Commissioner, Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, Tambaram, Chennai 600 045.
..Respondent(s) Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 1st and 2nd Respondents to consider the representations submitted by the petitioner on 21/01/2025 and on 03/01/2026 to all the Respondents, in the light of the Orders passed by the 1st Respondent in G.O.(D).No.320, MAWS Department, dated 09/09/2022, within a reasonable period as may be fixed by this Honorable Court. For Petitioner(s):
T.Ranganathan T.J.Lakshmipathy P.Siva Sankari For Respondents 1, 2 & 4 :
: Mr.C.Selvaraj, Mr.P.Balathandayutham For Respondent no.3 :
Special Government Pleader
ORDER
By consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.
This petition has been filed seeking a direction to the first and second respondents to consider the representations submitted by the petitioner on 21.01.2025 and on 03.01.2026 to all the respondents, in the light of the orders passed by the first respondent in G.O(D) No.320, MAWS Department, dated 09.09.2022 within a reasonable period to be fixed by this Court. 2.The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner is working as Town Planning Officer Grade I, now redesignated as Assistant City Planner in the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation since December 2023. On 21.06.2024, he was arrested by DVAC and remanded to judicial custody, based on the complaint dated 29.05.2024 made by A.Ganesan, Licenced Surveyor alleging demand of bribe by the petitioner. Though the FIR was registered on 31.05.2024, the petitioner was arrested only on 21.06.
2024. Consequently, the Director of Municipal Administration, the 2nd respondent herein, has placed him under suspension by proceedings dated 28.06.2024 retrospectively with effect from 21.07.2024. The petitioner continues to be under prolonged suspension. The petitioner had earlier filed a writ petition in W.P No.6097 of 2025 challenging the order of suspension issued by the 2nd respondent and since the matter was pre-mature, the said petition has been withdrawn on 21.02.2025.
considering that no bribe amount from him and that he was not present at the scene of the alleged payment. During the search, no illegal materials have been confiscated from the petitioner or his family members. The 2nd respondent has also failed to review the suspension in accordance with the orders issued by the Government in G.O (Ms) No.30, P & AR Department dated 23.02.2022. In G.O (D) No.320, MAWS Department dated 09.09.2022, the Government have issued orders revoking the suspension of Thiru.T.Kumar, Commissioner, Vellore City Municipal Corporation, without prejudice to the pendency of criminal case filed by the DVAC. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed.
3.The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that it would suffice, if a direction is issued to the first and second respondents to consider the petitioner's representations seeking revocation of his suspension order, within a reasonable time to be fixed by this Court. 4.Considering the limited request made by the learned counsel for the petitioner and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this Court, directs the first and second respondents to consider the petitioner's representations dated 21.01.2025 and 03.01.2026 seeking revocation of suspension order, and to pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance
with law within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
5. With the above directions, this writ petition stand disposed of. No costs.
29-01-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order uma
To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009.
2. The Director of Municipal Admiistration, No.75, Santhome High Road, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 600 028.
3. The Director of Vigilance and Anti corruption, No.293, M.K.N.Road, Ramapuram, Collectors Nagar, Alandur, Chennai 600 016.
4. The Commissioner, Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, Tambaram, Chennai 600 045.
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
uma 29-01-2026