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Madras High CourtWP/19551/2026disposed of with direction

M/S.Sakthi Body Works v. The Commissioner

2026-06-04Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani13 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 04-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P.Nos.19551, 19555, 19558 & 19567 of 2026 M/s.Sakthi Body Works Rep. by its Proprietor Mr.A.M.Elangovan, No.46 Poonamallee Bye-Pass Road Opp. MTC Bus Depot Poonamallee, Chennai-600056.

...Petitioner in all the

WPs Vs

1. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Rippon Building, Chennai 600003.

...R1 in all the WPs

2. The Zonal Officer, Zone VIII Greater Chennai Corporation Shenoy Nagar, Thiru.Vi.Ka.Park Chennai 600030.

...R2 in WP.Nos.

19551 & 19555 of 2026

3. The Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) (Central), Mechanical Engineer Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet, Chennai 600002.

...R3 in WP.No.

19551 of 2026

4. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Mechanical) (Central), Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet, Chennai 600002.

...R4 in WP.Nos.

19551 & 19555 of 2026 & R3 in WP.

No.19567 of 2026

5. The Executive Engineer (Mechanical) (Central), Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet, Chennai 600002.

...R5 in WP.No.

19551 of 2026 & R3 in WP.No.19555 of 2026 & R4 in WP.

No.19567 of 2026

6. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Mechanical), Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation Chennai 600030.

7. The Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) Zone VIII, Greater Chennai Corporation No.36B, Pulla Avenue, Shenoy Nagar

Chennai 600030.

...R2 & R3 in WP.No.

19558 of 2026

8. The Zonal Officer, Zone VI, Greater Chennai Corporation, Pattalam, Chennai 600012.

...R2 in WP.No.

19567 of 2026 PETITIONS under Article 226 of The Constitution of India praying for the issuance of Writs of Mandamus (i) directing the respondents to pay a sum of Rs.75,346/- (Rupees Seventy-Five Thousand Three Hundred and Forty-Six Only) along with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date of bill till the date of realization (WP.No.19551 of 2026);

(ii) directing the respondents to pay a sum of Rs.72,722/- (Rupees Seventy-Two Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty Two Only) along with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date of bill till the date of realization (WP.No.19555 of 2026);

(iii) directing the respondents to pay a sum of Rs.7,34,524/- (Rupees Seven Lakhs Thirty-four Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty

Four only) along with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date when the amount became due till the date of realization (WP.No.19558 of 2026); and (iv) directing the respondents to forthwith pay a sum of Rs.70,272/- (Rupees Seventy Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy Two only) to the petitioner together with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date of the bill till the date of realization within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner in all the WPs :

Ms.N.Beulah John Selvaraj For Respondents in all the WPs:

Mr. Abishek Murthy, Standing Counsel COMMON ORDER These petitions have been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to pay the petitioner a sum of Rs.75,346/-, Rs.72,722, Rs.7,34,524/- and Rs.70,272/- respectively along with interest at the rate of 24% per annum from the date of bill till the date of realization.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner in all the writ petitions and the learned Standing Counsel accepting notice for the respondents in all the writ petitions.

3. The case of the petitioner is as follows:

(i) The petitioner firm is engaged in building vehicle body and repair works including fabrication and maintenance of buses, trucks, vans, containers and specialised municipal vehicles such as tippers and compactors along with allied engineering works. (ii) In W.P.No.19551 of 2026, the fifth respondent issued a work order dated 07.4.2022 for repair of vehicle No.TN-04-AK-8806 (HMV Tipper) for a total value of Rs.75,846/-. This work order included the scope of work such as cabin flooring replacement, fabrication and patch works, door and hinge repairs, rear body structural repairs, flooring work and complete painting along with allied works. (iii) In W.P.No.19555 of 2026, the fourth respondent issued a work order dated 07.4.2022 for repair of vehicle No.TN-04-AK-6959 (HMV Tipper) for a total value of Rs.73,222/-. This work order included the

scope of work such as cabin flooring replacement, fabrication and patch works, door and hinge repairs, rear body structural repairs, flooring work and complete painting along with allied works. (iv) In W.P.No.19558 of 2026, the second respondent issued the work order dated 07.11.2018 for operation and maintenance of vehicle No.TN-22-BR-9326 (Mechanical Sweeper) for Zone III for a total contract value of Rs.9,15,090/- for a period of 300 days from 17.11.2018 to 12.9.2019 at 8 working hours per day.

(v) In W.P.No.19567 of 2026, the fourth respondent issued the work order dated 07.4.2022 for the repair of Amma Unavagam Vehicle bearing Regn.No.TN-04-AX-5144 for total value of Rs.70,772/-. This work order included the scope of work such as cabin flooring replacement, wind sheet fixing, right side body sheet repair, door and hinge repairs, fabrication and patch works, rear body structural repairs, flooring work along with allied works.

(vi) After completing the entire work as per the respective work orders, the petitioner raised the bills. Even after raising the bills, the respondents failed and neglected to settle the amounts due under the

respective work order. Though the petitioner made several representations to the respondents, no action has been taken. Last of such representations is dated 17.4.2026 sent to the Superintending Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai. As nothing was forthcoming, the petitioner is before this Court.

4. This Court has carefully considered the submissions of the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

5. As could be seen from the typed set of papers enclosed along with the respective affidavit filed in support of the writ petitions, the petitioner sent a common representation dated 17.4.2026 to the Superintending Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai. Hence, this Court is of the considered view that as the work orders are of the years 2018 and 2022, though the Superintending Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai is not a party to these writ petitions, ends

of justice would be met if the said Authority is directed to consider the said common representation dated 17.4.2026.

6. Accordingly, these writ petitions are disposed of with a direction to the Superintending Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai to consider the said common representation of the petitioner dated 17.4.2026 for release the amounts involved as per the work order, on merits and pass appropriate orders thereon in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order if there is no legal impediment. 04-06-2026 rli/rs Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order To (WP.No.19551 of 2026)

1. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Rippon Building Chennai 600003.

2. The Zonal Officer, Zone VIII Greater Chennai Corporation Shenoy Nagar, Thiru.Vi.Ka.Park Chennai 600030.

3. The Assistant Engineer (Mechanical) (Central), Mechanical Engineer Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet, Chennai 600002.

4. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Mechanical) (Central) Mechanical Engineer Department Greater Chennai Corporation Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet Chennai 600002.

5. The Executive Engineer (Mechanical) (Central), Mechanical Engineer Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet, Chennai 600002.

To (WP.No.19555 of 2026)

1. The Commissioner Greater Chennai Corporation Rippon Building Chennai 600003.

2. The Zonal Officer Zone VIII Greater Chennai Corporation Shenoy Nagar, Thiru.Vi.Ka.Park Chennai 600030.

3. The Executive Engineer (mechanical) (central) Mechanical Engineer Department Greater Chennai Corporation Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet Chennai 600002.

4. The Assistant Executive Engineer (mechanical) (central) Mechanical Engineer Department Greater Chennai Corporation Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet Chennai 600002.

To (WP.No.19558 of 2026)

1. The Commissioner Greater Chennai Corporation Rippon Building Chennai 600003.

2. The Assistant Executive Engineer (mechanical) Mechanical Engineer Department Greater Chennai Corporation Chennai 600030.

3. The Assistant Engineer (mechanical) Zone VIII Greater Chennai Corporation No.36B, Pulla Avenue, Shenoy Nagar Chennai 600030.

To (WP.No.19567 of 2026)

1. The Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Rippon Building, Chennai 600003.

2. The Zonal Officer, Zone VI, Greater Chennai Corporation, Pattalam, Chennai 600012.

3. The Assistant Executive Engineer (Mechanical) (Central), Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet, Chennai 600002.

4. The Executive Engineer (Mechanical) (Central), Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Adhithanar Salai, Pudupet, Chennai 600002.

Copy to (in all the cases) The Superintending Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Department, Greater Chennai Corporation, Chennai.

M.DHANDAPANI,J RLI WP.Nos.19551, 19555, 19558 & 19567 of 2026 04-06-2026