R.Niragulathan v. The State Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 31.07.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR and M.P.No. 1 of 2014 R.Niragulathan ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Home (Police-IV) Department, Fort Saint George Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director General of Police, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004.
3.The Inspector General of Police, (Operations), Marudham Compled, R.A. Puram, Chennai - 600 028.
.... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the letter No.33333/Pol-8/2007-13 dated 24.12.2008 passed by the 1st Respondent herein and quash the same and consequently directing the Respondents to grant accelerated promotion and other perquisites and benefits as implied under the STF formulated for Veerapan case to the petitioner.
For Petitioner : Mr.B.Ramkumar for Mr.M.Narayana Swamy.
For Respondents : Mr.V.Nanmaran Additional Government Pleader.
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed seeking a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records relating to the Letter No.33333/Pol-8/200713 dated 24.12.2008, whereby the claim of the petitioner for accelerated promotion was negatived on the ground that the services rendered by the petitioner in the Special Task Force against Mr.Veerappan and his gang was only for 4 months which is insignificant to claim the Special Task Force benefits.
2.
It is the case of the petitioner that he has worked in the Special Task Force for some period prior to the year 2004 and several persons who worked in the Special Task force prior to 2004 have been granted monetary benefits as well as accelerated promotion, but, the petitioner was denied the same. Under those circumstances, the petitioner made a claim for grant of accelerated promotion to the next higher cadre. The said claim was considered by the respondents in the light of the directions issued by this Court in W.P.No.11239 of 2007 dated 13.08.2008, and the same was rejected
by passing a impugned letter dated 24.12.2008. 3.
It is not in dispute that the petitioner has worked for a period of four months in the Special Task Force against Mr.Veerappan and his gang. It is also not in dispute that, out of the said four months, the petitioner actually worked only for 73 days.
4.
The respondents filed a counter affidavit stating that the guidelines providing for accelerated promotion and other monetary benefits were issued by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.1255, Home (S.C) Department, dated 29.10.2004. In terms of the said Government order in order to be eligible for the benefit of accelerated promotion, one should have continuously worked in Special Task Force for not less than two years and he should have been participated in an encounter/serious operation/sustained injury in securing the Veerappan and his gang. 5.
A perusal of the said Government order dated 29.10.2004 also makes it clear that the said requirement is required to be fulfilled in order to claim the benefit of accelerated promotion etc for having worked in the
Special Task Force against Veerappan and his Gang. Admittedly, it is not even the case of the petitioner that he has worked for more than two years nor participated in serious operation such as encounter nor sustained any injury in the said process. In the circumstances, this Court does not find any merit in the writ petition.
6.
Be that as it may, the impugned letter came to be issued in the year 2008, but the petitioner has approached this Court only in the year 2014, that too, 5 years after the petitioner got retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation. In the circumstances, this writ petition is also liable to be dismissed on the ground of delay and laches. 7.
Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs. Connected miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed. 31.07.2025 dpa Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order
To 1.The Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, Home (Police-IV) Department, Fort Saint George Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director General of Police, Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004.
3.The Inspector General of Police, (Operations), Marudham Compled, R.A. Puram, Chennai - 600 028.
MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J.
dpa 31.07.2025