The Secretary v. S Geetha

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 20-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R. SURESH KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR WA No. 704 of 2026 The Secretary The Government Telecommunication Employees Co-operative Society Ltd, No.37-A, Sembudoss Street, Chennai - 001.

..Appellant(s) Vs

1. S Geetha

2. The Central Registrar Multi-State Co-operative Societies/ Joint Secretary (Co-op), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi- 001.

3. The President The Government Telecommunication Employees Co-operative Society Ltd, Chennai - 001.

..Respondent(s) To set aside the order dated 21.11.2025 passed in W.P.No.33348 of 2025.

For Appellant(s):

Mr. R.Rajesh Kumar

JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by R.SURESH KUMAR, J.) This writ appeal has been directed against the order passed by the Writ Court dated 21.11.2025 made in W.P.No.33348 of 2025. Page No.1 of 5

2. The first respondent was the employee of the appellant Society called the Government Telecommunication Employees Co-operative Society Limited at Chennai, against whom, there has been a criminal case filed with regard to the alleged wordy altercation between the writ petitioner and a co-employee for the offences punishable under Sections294(b), 324, 506(i) r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The writ petitioner was placed under suspension by the present appellant on 18.01.2022, thereafter, after a full-fledged trial, the Judicial Magistrate - VII, George Town, Chennai, has acquitted the writ petitioner from the criminal charges, but, neither before or after the acquittal, no disciplinary proceeding has been initiated so far against the writ petitioner, however, she had been kept under suspension continuously from 18.01.2022, therefore, to set aside the suspension order, she has moved the writ petition.

3. The learned Writ Court, having considered the factual matrix, has allowed the said writ petition through the order impugned.

4. Heard Mr.R.Rajesh Kumar, learned counsel for the appellant. Though he submits that, now, the employer is ready and willing to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the writ petitioner, we are not impressed with the said submission because, right from 18.01.2022, no one has prevented the employer from initiating disciplinary proceedings against the first respondent/writ petitioner. After four and a half years, now, they Page No.2 of 5

cannot make a submission that they are ready to initiate disciplinary proceedings.

5. Unnecessarily, the employee has been kept under suspension even after the criminal case has got acquitted and keeping her under suspension for more than four and a half years from January, 2022, is against the settled legal position, where, suspension has to be periodically reviewed and unless and until concrete reasons are there to extend the suspension, the same has to be revoked. Therefore, there was every justification on the part of the learned Writ Court in allowing the said writ petition through the order impugned and we do not find any error in the approach and conclusion reached by the learned Writ Court.

6. As a result of which, the present appeal deserves to be dismissed and accordingly, it is dismissed. However, there shall be no order as to costs. The first respondent/writ petitioner shall immediately be reinstated within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Consequently, C.M.P.No.6944 of 2026 is closed. (R.S.K.,J.) (N.S.,J.) 20-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order (drm) Page No.3 of 5

To:

1. The Secretary The Government Telecommunication Employees Co-operative Society Ltd, No.37-A, Sembudoss Street, Chennai - 001.

2. The Central Registrar Multi-State Co-operative Societies/Joint Secretary (Co-op), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi- 001.

3. The President The Government Telecommunication Employees Co-operative Society Ltd, Chennai - 001.

Page No.4 of 5

R.SURESH KUMAR J.

AND N.SENTHILKUMAR J.

(drm) 20-04-2026 Page No.5 of 5