S.Sathiyamoorthy v. M/S.Snj Sugars And Products Limited

Sub Application(OS) No.310 of 2024 in Cont.P.No.2803 of 2023 C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.

In the Contempt Petition, the third respondent/Mr.S.Sathiyamoorthy, Director, Civil Supplies Department, Chief Secretariat Government of Puducherry, Puducherry - 605 001 is present before this Court today. He had filed Sub.Appln (OS).No.310 of 2024 seeking to dispense with his appearance. This Court had directed that he should be present atleast for one hearing and thereafter application for seeking to dispense with his presence can be considered. Since he is present today, further appearance is dispensed with, but he must appear whenever called.

2.

In the Contempt Petition, the second respondent/Mr.R.Muthukrishnan, Managing Director, Puducherry Agro Products Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., Agricultural Complex, Thattanchavady, Puducherry - 605 009 is also present today. 1/4

His presence is also dispensed with and he need not be present but, he must appear whenever called.

3. Therefore, the Sub Application stands closed observing as above.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner drew the attention of this Court to the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in a related matter in SLP(Civil) D.No(s).49478/2023, wherein, the Hon'ble Supreme Court had observed as follows:- "4.Having regard to the fact that respondent No.2 - the corporation, is a Government entity and is in extended hand of the state to perform various welfare schemes, we are satisfied that the state of puducherry cannot escape from its responsibility for settling the admitted debt of the corporation. We would, therefore, advise the State Government to revisit the whole issue and take an appropriate decision to bail out the corporation from the present crisis. Let some decision be taken in this regard before the next date of hearing.

6. Having regard to the aforesaid submission, the State Government may call a meeting inviting respondent No.1 as well as the Management of the 2/4

Corporation to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement."

5. The same ratio adopted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court is also followed and it is observed that the Union Territory of Puducherry cannot escape from its responsibility for settling the admitted debts of Puducherry Agro Products Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd,.

6. With respect to the observation about the meeting, I would also call upon the Union Territory of Puducherry to call for a meeting and I am confident that the petitioner would respond to any proposals made by the respondents. It is also informed that an appeal has also been filed against the order of this Court and is now pending in Diary No.17160 of 2024 before the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

7. List this case once again on 28.06.2024.

07.06.2024 jas C.V.KARTHIKEYAN,J.

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jas Sub Application(OS) No.310 of 2024 in Cont.P.No.2803 of 2023 07.06.2024 4/4