Karthikesan v. The Chairman Prtc / Secretary (Transport),
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 30.01.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.No.3009 of 2026 Karthikesan ... Petitioner Vs.
1 The Chairman PRTC / Secretary (Transport), Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Puducherry - 605 001.
2 The Managing Director Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Raja Nagar, Puducherry - 605 013.
3 The General Manager (Administration), Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Raja Nagar, Puducherry - 605 013.
... Respondents Prayer:
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records on the file of the third respondent in the impugned order in No.10/PRTC/ Admn/2025/1049 dated 19.12.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to provide the increment to the petitioner and also the salary for the suspension period. 1/6
For Petitioner : Mr.N.S.Elamugilan For Respondents : Mr.R.Sreedhar Additional Government Pleader (P)
O R D E R
By consent, the writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2.The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records on the file of the third respondent in the order in No.10/PRTC/Admn/2025/1049 dated 19.12.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to provide increment to the petitioner and also the salary for the suspension period.
3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was appointed as Conductor on daily rated basis with the respondent Corporation on 20.02.2006 and his services were regularized vide order dated 02.11.2010. The petitioner was placed under suspension from 31.07.2013 to 27.08.2013 on the allegation that ticket was not issued to 9 passengers and amount was not collected from 21 passengers and ticket was not issued and stage from 2/6
Mayiladudurai was not closed and subsequently, suspension was revoked vide order dated 27.08.2013. Thereafter, the petitioner was again placed under suspension from 19.02.2018 to 12.03.2018 on the allegation that five passengers were travelling with manual tickets and subsequently, suspension order was revoked. Thereafter, the petitioner was again placed under suspension from 22.04.2019 to 25.06.2019 on the allegation that five passengers travelled with loaded route ticket and subsequently, suspension order was revoked. 4.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted that thereafter, the third respondent based on the enquiry report submitted by the Enquiry Officer passed the impugned order confirming the above three charges against the petitioner imposing the punishment of stoppage of increment for three years with cumulative effect. The learned counsel further submitted that the writ petition was filed on the ground that the impugned order was passed without conducting enquiry that too for the incident that happened during the years 2013, 2018 and 2019.
5.The learned Additional Government Pleader (P) appearing 3/6
for the respondents submitted that this Court may set aside the impugned order and remand the matter back to the respondents and issue direction to the respondents to conduct appropriate enquiry and pass appropriate orders after providing opportunity to the petitioner. 6.Heard both sides and perused the materials available on record.
7.Perusal of the records reveal that the impugned order was passed without conducting enquiry that too for the incident that happened during the years 2013, 2018 and 2019. Hence, this Court is inclined to set aside the impugned order and remand the matter back to the respondents. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 19.12.2025 passed by the respondents is set aside and the matter is remanded back to the respondents for fresh consideration. The respondents are directed to conduct independent enquiry for each and every allegation by issuing separate disciplinary proceedings, if respondent Transport Corporation Regulation permits and after providing opportunity to the petitioner, pass appropriate orders, as expeditiously as possible.
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8.The writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 30.01.2026 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No To 1 The Chairman PRTC / Secretary (Transport), Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Puducherry - 605 001.
2 The Managing Director Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Raja Nagar, Puducherry - 605 013.
3 The General Manager (Administration), Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Raja Nagar, Puducherry - 605 013.
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M.DHANDAPANI,J.
pri And W.M.P.No.3009 of 2026 30.01.2026 6/6