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Madras High CourtWP/12367/2024dismissed

S.Pradeep v. The Chairman-Cum-Managing Director

2026-02-16Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 16.02.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI S.Pradeep ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.

2.The Chief Engineer (Personnel), Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.

3.The Superintendent Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Kallakurichi Power Distribution Circle, Anna Nagar, Kallakurichi-606 202.

4.The Superintendent Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO),

Villupuram Power Distribution Division, Shanmugapuram Colony, Villupuram-605 602. ...Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to process the petitioner's representation dated 17.11.2021 submitted to the third respondent and quash the rejection letter vide Ka.No.3098/309/May.Po/Tha.Mi.Pa.Va/Kallai/Ni.A/Ni.Pi.2/Uthavi.5/Ko.Va. Vey/2021 dated 23.11.2021 issued by the third respondent and may provide job on compassionate ground to the petitioner. For Petitioner :

Mr.N.Manoharan for Mr.N.Srinivasulu For Respondents : Mr.C.Manoharan

O R D E R

The writ petitioner challenges the rejection letter dated 23.11.2021 issued in Ka.No.3098/309/May.Po/Tha.Mi.Pa.Va/Kallai/Ni.A/Ni.Pi.2/Uthavi.5/Ko.Va. Vey/2021 issued by the third respondent, whereby, the claim of the petitioner for providing compassionate appointment was rejected.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the petitioner is the son of one C.Sathiyamoorthy, who was appointed as a Helper in the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board on 24.02.1993 and reposted at Thiyagadurgam, Kallakurichi. The petitioner's father died on 02.11.2010, while he was in service at Pappankulam street, Thiyagagundram Taluk, Kallakurichi, leaving behind his wife, the petitioner and his daughter. At that time, the petitioner was 12 years old and therefore, his mother had submitted a representation dated 23.05.2013 to the 4th respondent seeking appointment on compassionate ground. Subsequent to the above representation dated 23.05.2013, the petitioner's mother has submitted another representation dated 24.03.

2014 to the 4th respondent seeking appointment to the petitioner on compassionate ground, but the said two representations were not brought on record by the respondents 3 and 4. The petitioner's mother also submitted another representation dated 26.03.2018, but it was rejected vide order dated 23.04.2018 on the ground that the application was not submitted within 3 years from the date of death of the petitioner's father.

3. In continuation of earlier representations submitted by the petitioner's mother, the petitioner has also submitted a representation on 27.05.2021 to the respondents 3 and 4 and also on 17.11.2021 to the Chief Engineer, TANGEDCO, but the 3rd respondent has rejected the petitioner's representation vide order dated 23.11.2021, against which the present writ petition has been filed.

4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner reiterated the averments made in the affidavit filed in support of this writ petition and relied on the judgment of Madurai Bench of this Court in W.A.(MD).No.479 of 2024 dated 01.04.2024.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the respondents Corporation submits that the petitioner's mother has submitted the application belatedly (i.e.,) after a period of three years after the death of the petitioner's father. It is also stated that the applications and letters were promptly replied by the third respondent vide letter dated 06.03.2013. Since the application was

made belatedly, it was rejected. The applications dated 23.05.2013 and 24.03.2014 alleged to have been submitted by the petitioner's mother have not been received by the Superintending Engineer, Villupuram Electricity Board Circle. However, the representation dated 17.11.2021 was considered by the third respondent and a reply was sent on 23.11.2021. Therefore, the ground of delay urged by the petitioner cannot stand. It is also stated that the petitioner's candidature was rejected vide B.P.No.11 dated 11.06.2020 and B.P.No.13, dated 08.05.2013. Therefore, the learned Standing Counsel sought for dismissal of this writ petition.

6. Even assuming that the petitioner's mother has made the applications seeking compassionate appointment for her son in the year 2013 and 2014, the same were not submitted through proper channel as offered by the respondents in the counter affidavit. That apart, G.O.Ms.No.155, Labour and Employment (Ku1) Department, dated 10.12.2014, was governing the field at the time when the petitioner's mother applied for compassionate appointment. Only thereafter, Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023, came into force. Hence, reliance

placed upon by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner on the judgment of this Court in W.A.(MD).No.479 of 2024 dated 01.04.2024 does not apply to the facts of the present case. Looking from any angle, the petitioner's request for compassionate appointment was rightly rejected by the respondents both on the grounds of delay in making the application for compassionate appointment as well as the fact that family was not in penurious circumstances after the death of the deceased employee as the mother of the petitioner was receiving the family pension of Rs.10,000/- and odd. Hence, the relief sought for by the petitioner cannot be granted.

7. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

16.02.2026 NCC: Yes / No Index : Yes / No Speaking Order : Yes / No ssb

To 1.The Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.

2.The Chief Engineer (Personnel), Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.

3.The Superintendent Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Kallakurichi Power Distribution Circle, Anna Nagar, Kallakurichi-606 202.

4.The Superintendent Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, (TANGEDCO), Villupuram Power Distribution Division, Shanmugapuram Colony, Villupuram-605 602.

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

ssb 16.02.2026