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Madras High CourtWP/20347/2020disposed of

G.Venkateswaran v. The State Of Tamil Nadu,

2021-01-05Honourable Mr Justice Abdul Quddhose3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 05.01.2021 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE W.P.No.20347 of 2020 G.Venkateswaran ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by The Secretary to Government, Law Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Joint Secretary to Government, Law Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009. ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to renew the certificate of the petitioner to practice as Notary in Thiruthuraipoondi town, Thiruvarur District for a further period of 5 years w.e.f. 31.07.2020 by considering the application made by him on 05.03.2020 within a reasonable time that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner :Mr.P.Dinesh Kumar For Respondents :Mr.V.Shanmuga Sundar Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

Mr.V.Shanmuga Sundar, learned Special Government Pleader accepts notice for the respondents.

2. This writ petition has been filed for a mandamus seeking for a direction to the first respondent to renew the certificate of the petitioner to practice as Notary in Thiruthuraipoondi Town, Thiruvarur District for a further period of 5 years w.e.f. 31.07.2020 by considering the petitioner's application dated 05.03.2020 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

3. It is the case of the petitioner that he is a qualified notary public and his licence expired on 31.07.2020. It is his case that he had sought for renewal of licence, three months prior to the expiry date i.e., on 05.03.2020 itself. It is also his case that despite submitting his application for renewal to the first respondent, till date, the said application has not been considered and renewal has not been granted in his favour. In such circumstances, this writ petition is filed.

4. Heard Mr.P.Dinesh Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.V.Shanmuga Sundar, learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents.

5. The relief sought for in this writ petition is an innocuous one. The petitioner seeks for renewal of his notary public licence. He has submitted his renewal application on 05.03.2020 and the licence expired on 31.07.2020. It is his case that till date, his renewal application dated 05.03.2020 has not been considered by the first respondent. No prejudice will be caused to the respondents, if the application of the petitioner is considered on merits and in accordance with law.

6. For the foregoing reasons, this Court directs the first respondent to consider the petitioner's application dated 05.03.2020 seeking for renewal of his Notary Public Licence for Thiruthuraipoondi Town, Thiruvarur District for a further period of 5 years w.e.f. 31.07.2020 and pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order.

7. With the above direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

-s/d- Assistant Registrar True Copy Sub-Assistant Registrar nl

To 1.The Secretary to Government, Law Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

2.The Joint Secretary to Government, Law Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

+1 CC to Mr.P.Dinesh Kumar, Advocate Sr.No.585 W.P.No.20347 of 2020 KV(CO) KP(20/01/2021)