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Madras High CourtWP/14078/2025disposed of with direction

A.S.Poonkuzhali v. The Registrar

2026-02-26Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani6 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 26-02-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and W.M.P.Nos.15824, 15825 & 15826 of 2025 A.S.Poonkuzhali ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Registrar, Co-Operative Societies, No.170, Periyar E.Ve.Ra.High Court, Chennai-600 010.

2. The Additional Registrar/Managing Director, Kanchipuram Central Co-Operative Bank, No.15, G, Chekupettai North Street, Kanchipuram-631 501.

..Respondent(s) Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records of the 2nd Respondent dated 04.03.2025 in Na.Ka.7980/2024-25/Pani-2 and quash the same and consequently direct the Respondents to conduct a fresh inquiry by giving reasonable opportunity to the Petitioner and also to defreeze the Savings Accounts of the Petitioner in Savings Account No.203007835 in Avadi Bazar Branch of the Kanchipuram Central Co-operative Bank and Savings Account No.222149993 in Thiruvallur Branch of the Kanchipuram Central Co-operative Bank, and also the safety locker at the said Thiruvallur Branch.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.M.R.Dhalapathy Vignesh For Respondent(s):

Mr.E.P.Senniyangiri, Government Advocate for R-1 Ms.G.Thilagavathi, Standing Counsel assisted by Mr.Gopinath for R-2

ORDER

Aggrieved by the suspension order passed by the 2nd respondent dated 04.03.2025, the petitioner is before this court.

2. The petitioner is employed as Manager in the 2nd respondent bank. After issuance of due notice to the petitioner, she was placed under temporary suspension by impugned order dated 04.03.2025 on the ground that she was involved in certain financial irregularities, which were detected during the course of regular audit inspection. Consequent to the suspension, the petitioner's two saving accounts were frozen and the safety locker which is being maintained by her at Kanchipuram Central Co-operative Bank, Thiruvalluvar Branch was also sealed. Challenging the said suspension, the petitioner has come up with the present Writ Petition.

3. Though very many grounds have been raised, at the time of arguments, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that it would suffice if

this Court issues a direction to the respondents to conclude the Disciplinary Proceedings pending against the petitioner within a reasonable time. He further submitted that respondents may be directed not to disburse the amount lying to the credit of the petitioner's savings accounts but to permit the petitioner to operate the account with zero balance and also allow her to access the jewels kept inside the bank locker maintained by her. Accordingly, he prayed for appropriate orders.

4. Learned Senior Counsel appearing for the respondents submitted that they have no serious objection to permitting the petitioner to operate the bank account with a zero balance without disbursing the amounts lying to credit of the savings account being maintained by her. However, he strongly objected to granting permission to the petitioner to operate or access the jewels kept inside the locker.

5. Though, respondents contend that the petitioner cannot be permitted to access the locker, but the fact remains that the Disciplinary Proceedings cannot be made as an aid to prevent access for the locker to the petitioner as even if the Disciplinary Proceedings is concluded against the petitioner, the belongings of the petitioner cannot be claimed by the respondents as they have no authority for such confiscation.

6. However, considering the facts and circumstances of the case as well as the submissions advanced by the learned counsel appearing on either side, this Court without interfering with the impugned order, directs the respondents to conclude the Disciplinary Proceedings pending against the petitioner within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Further, the petitioner is at liberty to operate the bank locker maintained by her at Kanchipuram Co-operative Societies at Thiruvallur Branch and access the jewels kept therein.

7. The Writ Petition stands disposed of with the aforesaid direction and liberty. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.

26-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order NHS To 1.The Registrar, Co-Operative Societies, No.170, Periyar E.Ve.Ra.High Court, Chennai-600 010.

2.The Additional Registrar/Managing Director, Kanchipuram Central Co-Operative Bank, No.15, G, Chekupettai North Street, Kanchipuram-631 501.

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

NHS and W.M.P.Nos.15824, 15825 & 15826 of 2025 26-02-2026