V.Anbazhagan v. The Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 22.07.2020

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE M.M.SUNDRESH and THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE R.HEMALATHA W.P.No. 8524 of 2020 V.Anbazhagan .. Petitioner Vs 1.The Secretary to His Excellency Hon'ble Governor State of Tamil Nadu Raj Bhawan, Chennai - 600 022.

2.The Chief Secretary State of Tamil Nadu Fort St.George Chennai - 600 009.

3.The Secretary to Government, Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.

.. Respondents Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents herein to appoint an Ombudsman for Local Bodies as per Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act, 2014 based on the petitioner's representation dated 30.05.2020. For Petitioner ..

Mr.S.Kumara Devan For Respondents ..

Mr.V.Jayaprakash Narayanan Govt. Pleader for R2,R3

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by M.M.SUNDRESH, J.) The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner as a Public Interest Litigation seeking a direction to the respondents to appoint the Ombudsman for the local bodies in https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/

tune with Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act, 2014. As the petitioner's representation has not been considered, the present writ petition has been filed.

2. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader appearing for respondents 2 and 3.

3. Learned Government Pleader appearing for respondents 2 and 3 submitted that the Ombudsman could not be appointed earlier in view of the pandemic situation. He further submitted that the Ombudsman will be appointed in tune with Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act, 2014 within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

4. Recording the aforesaid submission made by the learned Special Government Pleader, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-III) //True copy// Sub Assistant Registrar mmi/ssm To 1.The Secretary to His Excellency Hon'ble Governor State of Tamil Nadu Raj Bhawan, Chennai - 600 022.

2.The Chief Secretary State of Tamil Nadu Fort St.George Chennai - 600 009.

3.The Secretary to Government, Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.

+1cc to Mr.S.Kumara Devan, Advocate SR.No.25008 W.P.No.8524 of 2020 NR(CO) GMY(06/08/2020) https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/