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Madras High CourtWP/11477/2026allowed

S.Mariappan,(Emp.Id- 12065137), v. The Chief Engineer,(Personnal), Tangedco

2026-03-27Honourable Ms. Justice P.T. Asha8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27-03-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA S.Mariappan S/o.Sivananainthan, EB Office, Kangeyam Road, Uthiyur Post, Tiruppur- 638 703.

..Petitioner Vs

1. The Chief Engineer (Personnal), TANGEDCO NPKRR Maaligai,8th Floor, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-02.

2. Chief Engineer/ Distribution TANGEDCO Coimbatore Region, TNEB Complex, TATABAT, Coimbatore- 641012.

3. Superintending Engineer Trichy Road, Palladam- 641 664.

4. Executive Engineer TANGEDCO PSG-Lodge, 2nd Floor Sennimalai Road, Kangeyam- 638 701.

5. Assistant Executive Engineer (Debtation office) South / Kangeyam Sub- Division Old Fort Road, Kangeyam- 638701.

6. Assistant Engineer (Main Office) (Operation and Maintenance), East / Vellakkovil Vellakovil and Post, Kangeyam Taluk, Tiruppur District- 638 111.

7. Assistant Engineer,(Debtation office) Operation and Maintenance, Uthiyur and Post, Palladam Electricity Distribution Circle, Uthiyur, Tiruppur District-638 703.

8. Assistant Executive Engineer, (Main Office) Operation and Maintenance, South Vellakovil Sub- Division Vellakkovil, Tiruppur District-638 111.

..Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus to direct the 1st Respondent to relieve the petitioner based on his transfer order in Memo No. 00134/ 28/ G26/ G26-1/ 2017 dated 29.06.2017 from the Palladam Electricity Distribution Circle,South Kangeyam to Kadayanallur Zone, Kadayanallur City Division Office, Tenkasi District subsequently to consider the petitioner's representation dated 07.01.2026 and pass orders.

For Petitioner:

Mr.T.Annamalai for Mr.V.Maharajan For Respondents:

Mr.C.Ramkumar Standing Counsel for R1 to R8

ORDER

The writ petition has been filed seeking a mandamus to direct the 1st respondent to relieve the petitioner from Palladam Electricity Distribution Circle, South Kangeyam to Kadayanallur Zone, Kadayanallur City Division Office, Tenkasi District, based on his transfer order dated 29.06.2017 and to consider the petitioner's representation dated 07.01.2026.

2. The petitioner was employed as Electricity Meter Reading Assessor Grade-II in Palladam Electricity Distribution Circle on 06.03.2014. On completion of his probation, he was posted at Uthiyur Division Office and he has been working there for the past ten years. On account of his family circumstances, the petitioner had requested for a transfer to his native place at Tirunelveli District. His request was considered by the TANGEDCO (Administrative Branch) and vide its Memo dated 29.06.2017, it issued transfer orders for 22 Assessors / Assessors Grade-II to Tirunelveli Electricity Distribution Circle, in which, the petitioner's name finds a place and the petitioner was instructed to join

Kadayanallur City Division Office after getting proper relief from the existing Tiruppur EDC.

3. The petitioner would submit that though the Superintending Engineer has forwarded the relieving order dated 13.07.2017 to the Superintending Engineer, TEDC/Tirunelveli, and the same was received by the Kadayanallur City Division Officer on 07.08.2017, the petitioner was not relieved from Palladam Electricity Distribution Circle, Kangeyam Zone Office. The petitioner had also addressed a petition on 10.10.2023 to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Cell, with a copy to the respondents herein. The Office of the Administrator of the Chief Minister Cell addressed a letter to the 5th respondent, to relieve the petitioner based on his transfer order. In response, on 02.12.

2023, a reply was submitted by the 5th respondent to the petitioner stating that since no Assessor was posted or transferred to their unit, they are not in a position to relieve the petitioner. The petitioner had also submitted a representation on 07.01.2026 to the respondents, seeking to relieve him, based on his transfer order dated 29.06.2017. Since, the same was not considered to date, the petitioner is before this Court.

4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and also perused the materials placed before this Court.

5. It is not in dispute that the request of the petitioner seeking transfer to Tirunelveli District was considered by the TANGEDCO as early as on 29.06.2017 and the transfer order of the petitioner was received by Kadayanallur City Division Office on 07.08.2017 itself. However, the respondents had failed to implement the transfer order for over 8 years and therefore, the same is legally viewed as an abuse of process of law and violation of principles of natural justice.

6. With a view to address the grievance of the petitioner, this Court directs the first respondent to forthwith give effect to order dated 29.06.2017 and 07.08.2018, which has been kept pending all the while solely on the ground that the 5th respondent is not issuing the relieving order to the petitioner. The first respondent shall ensure that the 5th respondent shall issue relieving order to the petitioner, within a period of four weeks from today.

7. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Post the matter for 'reporting compliance' on 01.06.2026. 27-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS To:

1. The Chief Engineer (Personnal), TANGEDCO NPKRR Maaligai,8th Floor, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-02.

2. The Chief Engineer/ Distribution TANGEDCO Coimbatore Region, TNEB Complex, TATABAT, Coimbatore- 641012.

3. The Superintending Engineer Trichy Road, Palladam- 641 664.

4. The Executive Engineer TANGEDCO PSG-Lodge, 2nd Floor Sennimalai Road, Kangeyam- 638 701.

5. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Debtation office) South / Kangeyam Sub- Division Old Fort Road,

Kangeyam- 638701.

6. The Assistant Engineer (Main Office) (Operation and Maintenance), East / Vellakkovil Vellakovil and Post, Kangeyam Taluk, Tiruppur District- 638 111.

7. The Assistant Engineer,(Debtation office) Operation and Maintenance, Uthiyur and Post, Palladam Electricity Distribution Circle, Uthiyur, Tiruppur District-638 703.

8. The Assistant Executive Engineer, (Main Office) Operation and Maintenance, South Vellakovil Sub- Division Vellakkovil, Tiruppur District-638 111.

P.T.ASHA, J.

DS 27-03-2026