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Madras High CourtWP/8470/2026disposed of

A.Ravi v. The Principal Secretary To Government

2026-03-05Honourable Ms. Justice P.T. Asha6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 05-03-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA W.P. No. 8470 of 2026 A.Ravi Assistant Engineer, Rasipuram Municipality, Namakkal District -637 408 ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Principal Secretary To Government Municipal Administration and Water, Supply Department, Fort, St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

2. The Director of Municipal Administration No.75, Santhome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, M.R.C. Nagar, Chennai-600 028

3. The Commissioner Rasipuram Municipality, Namakkal District -637 408 ..Respondent(s) The Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 07.01.2026 for promotion as Assistant Executive Engineer in the 2019-2020 panel, on par with his Junior G.

Ananthajothi who was promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer in the proceedings of the Director of Municipal Administration issued in Roc. No.28618/2019/F1 dated 14.07.2020 within a reasonable period as may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr. T.Ranganathan For Respondent(s):

Mr.C.Selvaraj Additional Government Pleader for R1 Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader for R3

ORDER

The present Writ Petition has been filed for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 07.01.2026 for promotion as Assistant Executive Engineer in the 2019-2020 panel, on par with his Junior G.Ananthajothi, who was promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer in the proceedings of the Director of Municipal Administration issued in Roc. No.28618/2019/F1 dated 14.07.2020 within a reasonable period as may be fixed by this Court.

2. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner was initially appointed as Work Inspector in Dharmapuri Municipality through the Employment Exchange and is presently working as Assistant Engineer in Rasipuram Municipality. In such circumstances, the second respondent had issued a Charge

Memo under Rule 8(2) of the Tamil Nadu Municipal Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1970, dated 13.02.2018. Thereafter, the second respondent prepared the panel for the post of Assistant Executive Engineer for the year 2019-2020, dated 17.02.2020. Even though the petitioner's name was in the zone of consideration, he was not considered for promotion on the ground that charges under Rule 8(2) were pending and that his name will be considered for inclusion in the panel if the charges are dropped. Thereafter, the Government dropped the charges framed against the petitioner. Though the charges were dropped, the petitioner has not been considered for promotion as Assistant Executive Engineer. Hence, the petitioner has made a representation on 07.01.2026 to the 1st and 2nd respondents seeking for promotion as Assistant Executive Engineer in the 2019-2020 panel. However, no response has been received from them. Challenging the inaction on the part of the respondents, the present Writ Petition has been filed.

3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Additional Government Pleader for the 1st respondent and the learned Special Government Pleader for the 3rd respondent.

4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the submission made by the learned counsel appearing on either side, this Court directs the 1st and 2nd respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 07.01.2026 and pass appropriate orders, in line with G.O.(2D).No.2, Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MC 4) Department, dated 18.01.2006 and G.O.(2D) No.24, Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MC-3) Department, dated 12.04.2013, within a period of three (3) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

05-03-2026 Asi To

1. The Principal Secretary to Government Municipal Administration and Water, Supply Department, Fort, St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2. The Director of Municipal Administration No.75, Santhome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, M.R.C. Nagar, Chennai-600 028

3. The Commissioner Rasipuram Municipality, Namakkal District -637 408.

P.T.ASHA, J.

Asi W.P. No. 8470 of 2026 05-03-2026