Murali v. The General Manager
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 05.03.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.No.9015 of 2026 Murali ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The General Manager, Office of the General Manager, Southern Railway, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
2.The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Divisional Railway Manager's Office, Commercial Branch, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
3.The Station Manager, Southern Railway, Chennai Central Railway Station, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
... Respondents Prayer:
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus and call for the records on the file of second respondent M/C.360/LCP/WP 5481/2024(17) dated 1/6
24.06.2024 and quash the same and consequently direct the second respondent to issue /restore the Coolie Porter Batch No.405 based on the petitioner's representation dated 22.01.2026. For Petitioner : Mr.P.Kannan Kumar For Respondents : Mr.P.T.Ramkumar
O R D E R
The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus and call for the records on the file of second respondent M/C.360/LCP/WP 5481/2024(17) dated 24.06.2024 and quash the same and consequently direct the second respondent to issue /restore the Coolie Porter Batch No.405 based on the petitioner's representation dated 22.01.2026.
2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that pursuant to the order of the Divisional Railway Manager's Office, Commercial Branch, Chennai, dated 16.07.2001, the Railway Authorities issued identity card bearing Badge No.405, recognizing the petitioner as a licensed porter. Originally Badge No.405 stood in the name of one Umapathy and from 16.07.2001 onwards the petitioner was continuously working as licensed porter at the Chennai Central Railway Station. The petitioner along with similarly placed persons 2/6
made representation dated 27.01.2024 to the respondents seeking to renew their identity cards and since the same was not considered, they filed W.P.No.5481 of 2024 and pursuant to the order of this Court dated 25.03.2024 made in the said writ petition, the respondents issued the impugned order stating that badge no.405 was issued to Umapathy and due to his prolonged absence and misuse of the badge by the petitioner, the coolie porter license issued to Umapathy was terminated on 17.01.2019 and that the representation for permitting the petitioner to work as licensed coolie porter cannot be considered. 3.
The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted that the petitioner is a downtrodden and is depending upon the porter employment available in the Chennai Central Railway Station for his livelihood and further submitted that persons who have obtained badge to work as licensed coolie porter are entitled for complimentary railway pass. This Court may, without going into the merits of the case, issue direction to the respondents to issue porter badge to the petitioner and permit the petitioner to work as licensed coolie porter at the Chennai Central Railway Station without complimentary railway pass.
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4.The learned counsel appearing for the respondents submitted that the petitioner mis-used the badge given to one Umapathy and after coming to know of the mal practices committed by the petitioner, the coolie porter license issued to Umapathy was terminated on 17.01.2019 and further submitted that no badge was issued in favour of the petitioner. The learned counsel further submitted that there are 248 coolie porters available at the Chennai Central Railway Station and it was found that 58 coolie porters including the petitioner, impersonated the original licensees and worked with false ID cards and further submitted that if new porter badge is issued to the petitioner, it would amount to allowing the other 57 persons and it will open the pandora box.
5.Heard the arguments advanced on either side and perused the materials available on record.
6.The petitioner is a downtrodden and is depending upon the porter employment available in the Chennai Central Railway Station for his livelihood. Earlier, the petitioner mis-used the badge issued to one Umapathy and subsequently the same was cancelled. The petitioner 4/6
was employed as porter for more than a decade and there is no other livelihood available to the petitioner.
7.Considering the plight of the petitioner, this Court directs the respondents to issue porter badge to the petitioner and permit the petitioner to work as licensed coolie porter at the Chennai Central Railway Station without complimentary railway pass, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The petitioner is directed to not to insist for complimentary railway pass as a matter of right.
8.The writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 05.03.2026 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No 5/6
M.DHANDAPANI,J.
pri To 1.The General Manager, Office of the General Manager, Southern Railway, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
2.The Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Divisional Railway Manager's Office, Commercial Branch, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
3.The Station Manager, Southern Railway, Chennai Central Railway Station, Park Town, Chennai - 600 003.
And W.M.P.No.9015 of 2026 05.03.2026 6/6