P.Rajendran v. The Executive Engineer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27-03-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P.No. 11318 of 2026 P.Rajendran

...Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Executive Engineer Special Buildings Division II Public Works Department (PWD) Puducherry

2. V.Kaviarasan

...Respondent(s)

PETITION under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to release the amounts due under fixed deposit account Nos.60001263246 & 60001269226 with Puduvai Bharathiar Grama Bank Kattukuppam, Puducherry in 1st respondent's name to the petitioner forthwith with interest and cost.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.D.Baskar For Respondent(s):

Mr.R.Sreedhar, AGP (P) for R1

ORDER

This is a petition filed by the petitioner seeking a direction to the first respondent to release the amounts due under fixed deposit account Nos.60001263246 and 60001269226 with Puduvai Bharathiar Grama Bank, Kattupakkam, Puducherry, now lying in the name of the first respondent to the petitioner together with interest and costs.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader (Puducherry) accepting notice for the first respondent. In view of the limited nature of relief this Court proposes to grant, notice to the second respondent is dispensed with and the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal.

3. The case of the petitioner is as follows:

(i) The petitioner was working as an Engineer in the Tamil Nadu

Agricultural Engineering Department. He retired on 30.4.2017. The second respondent undertook a contract work from the first respondent for constructing a connecting corridor with staircase in a government school at Pillayarkuppam, Puducherry. But, the second respondent could not offer security and instead, the petitioner, who is a known person of the second respondent, offered security by making the two fixed deposits with the Puduvai Bharathiyar Grama Bank.

(ii) Since the deposit was meant to serve as a security, it was deposited in the name of the first respondent for six months. The grievance of the petitioner is that even though the contract work was completed, the deposit amounts have not yet been released to the petitioner. In this regard, the petitioner sent a representation dated 19.1.2026 to the respondents and another, for which, the first respondent sent a reply dated 27.2.2026 stating that the said deposit amounts were already released to the second respondent even on 09.6.2022 on completion of the work.

(iii) The petitioner is having the original deposit receipts and the amounts were paid only through the petitioner's account. The second

respondent could not receive the deposit amounts nor the first respondent could release the same to the second respondent. Hence the writ petition.

4. In the considered view of this Court, admittedly, on completion of the work, the deposit amounts were released to the second respondent by the first respondent. This was also intimated to the petitioner vide proceedings dated 27.2.2026. There is nothing to be adjudicated in this writ petition. Therefore, if at all the petitioner wants to take any action, he can proceed only against the second respondent in a manner known to law.

5. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of granting liberty to the petitioner to proceed against the second respondent in a manner known to law, if the petitioner so chooses. No costs. 27-03-2026 RLI Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order

To

1. The Executive Engineer Special Buildings Division II Public works Department (PWD) Puducherry.

2. Puduvai Bharathiar Grama Bank, Kattupakkam, Puducherry.

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

RLI 27-03-2026