R.Pandurangan, v. T.S.Selvavinayagam And Another
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 27-03-2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR R.Pandurangan Petitioner Vs
1. Mr.T.S.Selvavinayagam Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, DMS Compound, 359, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 006.
2.Mr.P.Senthilkumar, I.A.S., Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort, St. George, Chennai-600 009.
Contemnors PRAYER Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, to punish the respondents for wilful disobedience of the order of this Court, dated 26.08.2019 passed by this Court in W.P.No.18690 of 2015. For Petitioner:
Mr.R.Ezhilarasan For Respondents:
Mr.E.Sundaram, Government Advocate
ORDER
This Contempt Application is filed to punish the respondents for their wilful disobedience of the order of this Court, dated 26.08.2019 in W.P.No.18690 of 2015.
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2. The Contempt Petition has been presented on 18.02.2026. This Court on 13.03.2026 in Contempt Petition No.4143 of 2025 which has been filed against the same said order in batch of Writ Petitions in W.P.No.18687 to 18700 of 2015 including the present writ petition, had held that having regard to Section 20 of the Contempts of Courts Act, 1971, the Contempt Petition is required to be filed within a period of one year from the date of expiry of the period granted by this Court for the respondents in the writ petitions, to take action. This Court in the aforesaid Contempt Petition further noted that the cause of action for the petitioner to initiate Contempt had arisen on expiry of time granted by this Court while disposing of the Writ Petitions on 26.08.2019 and that the petitioner not only did not take any steps within the time prescribed under Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and on the other hand remained silent for considerable time and approached this Court by filing Contempt Petition after six years.
3. This Court by order, dated 01.06.2023 in Cont.P.Nos.2599 & 3033 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.2706 of 2025 had considered the scope of Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act and Article 215 of the Constitution of India, and also as to what would constitute continuing cause of action. 2/4
4. This Court having regard to the law declared by the Hon'ble Apex Court had held that Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, being a specific provision, the contempt petitions have to be filed within one year when the cause of action arises.
5. Having regard to the aforesaid facts and the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court and also since the present Contempt Petition has been filed against the same said order, the present contempt petition cannot be entertained.
6. Accordingly, this Contempt Petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.
27-03-2026 vum Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order To 1.Mr.T.S.Selvavinayagam Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, DMS Compound, 359, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-6.
2.Mr. P.Senthilkumar, I.A.S., Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, Secretariat, Fort, St. George, Chennai-600 009.
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T.VINOD KUMAR J.
vum 27-03-2026 4/4