Venkatesan v. G. Laxmi Priya, I.A.S

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 08.04.2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN Venkatesan .. Petitioner -vsG.Laxmi Priya, I.A.S., The Chairman, State Level Scrutiny Committee, Chief Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-9.

.. Respondent Prayer: Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, to punish the respondent for committing contempt of court by willfully disobeying the order of this Court in W.P.No.22401 of 2025 dated 23.06.2025.

For Petitioner :

Ms.K.Nithyashree For Respondent :

Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath Govt. Advocate

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) The contempt petition has been filed alleging non-compliance of the order dated 23.06.2025 passed in W.P.No.22401 of 2025, whereby the writ petition was disposed of with a direction to the respondent to complete the verification proceedings initiated vide letter dated 24.08.2017 and take a decision in respect of issuance of community certificate to the petitioner in accordance with law. Such exercise was to be carried out within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order. This order was passed without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case.

2. Learned counsel for the respondent has filed a status report wherein they had prayed for two weeks' time to pass an order. However, during the pendency of the contempt petition, the final order dated 07.04.2026 has already been passed, meaning thereby the order of this Court stands complied with, however, with certain delay.

3. Since the contemnor has tendered unconditional apology, we condone the delay in passing the order beyond the prescribed period. In view of the above, nothing survives for adjudication in this contempt petition. However, the petitioner would be at liberty to assail the order dated 07.04.2026, if so advised. Contempt proceedings is dropped and the Contempt Petition is, accordingly, closed.

(SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CJ.) (G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.) 08.04.2026 Index : Yes/No : Yes/No sra

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN, J.

(sra) 08.04.2026