R.Seenu v. The Chairman And Managing Director,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 22-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA and WMP No.24218 of 2026 R.Seenu ..Petitioner(s) Vs The Chairman and Managing Director, TANGEDCO, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-2.

..Respondent(s) PRAYER: The Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to consider and promote the petitioner as superintending engineer (electrical) pursuant to the proceedings dated 14.05.2026 without reference to the pending departmental proceedings.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.Vijayashankar For Respondent(s):

Mr.Rajkumar, Standing Counsel

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking for direction to the respondent to consider and promote the petitioner as superintending engineer (electrical) pursuant to the proceedings dated 14.05.2026 without reference to the pending departmental proceedings.

2. The case of the petitioner is that he joined the respondent Board as Assistant Engineer in 1992 and was subsequently promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer in 2005 and Executive Engineer in 2017. Having completed more than 33 years of service, he is due for further promotion as Superintending Engineer and has only a few years of service left before retirement. A charge memo dated 19.06.2024 was issued to the petitioner, to which he submitted a detailed explanation denying the allegations and sought early completion of the departmental proceedings. Though the applicable Board proceedings require disciplinary enquiries to be concluded within six months, the enquiry was unduly delayed despite repeated representations dated 29.04.2025 and 30.06.2025. Aggrieved by the delay, the petitioner filed W.P.No.

28524 of 2025, wherein this Court, by order dated 31.07.2025, directed the respondent board to conclude the disciplinary proceedings within eight weeks. However, the said direction was not complied with. In the meanwhile, the petitioner's case for promotion as Superintending Engineer was under consideration, but the pending disciplinary proceedings stood in the way. Therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 02.06.2026 seeking consideration of his promotion without reference to the pending disciplinary proceedings and has approached this Court seeking appropriate relief.

3.

Heard the learned counsel for both sides and perused the entire materials available on record.

4.

It is brought to the notice of this Court that the charges framed against the petitioner have subsequently been dropped by the competent authority. In view of the said development, the disciplinary proceedings no longer survive and there is no legal impediment for the respondent to consider the petitioner's claim for promotion.

5.

Since the charge memo has been dropped, the pendency of the disciplinary proceedings cannot be cited as a ground to deny or defer the petitioner's consideration for promotion to the post of Superintending Engineer. Therefore, the respondent is bound to consider the petitioner's candidature on its own merits and in accordance with applicable service rules. 6.

Accordingly, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent to consider the petitioner's case for promotion to the post of Superintending Engineer, without reference to the earlier charge memo and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within a reasonable time. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 22-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VKR

P.T.ASHA, J.

VKR To The Chairman and Managing Director, TANGEDCO, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai-2.

22-06-2026