Er.M.Jeyaraman v. Joint Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 22.09.2023 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE MR.SANJAY V.GANGAPURWALA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.D.AUDIKESAVALU Er.M.Jeyaraman .. Petitioner Vs 1.The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110 001.

2.The Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

3.The District Collector, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - 641 113.

4.Ombudsperson, Mahathma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

5.Poornima Rangarajan, President, Marudhur Village Panchayat, Karamadai Panchayat Union, Mettupalayam Taluk, Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu.

.. Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the third respondent to initiate necessary action against the fifth respondent in light of the interim award dated 6.2.2023 passed by the fourth respondent.

For the Petitioner : Mr.Surya Sendil for M/s.Surana and Surana For the Respondents : Mr.Diwakar for respondent No.1 : Mrs.R.Anitha Spl. Government Pleader for respondents 2 and 3 : R4 - No appearance : Mr.V.R.Kamalanathan for M/s.P.Kavitha for respondent No.5

ORDER

(Order of the court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) We have heard Mr.Surya Sendil, learned counsel for the petitioner; Mr.S.Diwakar, learned counsel for the first respondent; Mrs.R.Anitha, learned Special Government Pleader for respondents 2 and 3; and Mr.V.R.Kamalanathan, learned counsel for the fifth respondent.

2. The petitioner seeks direction against the third respondent to initiate necessary action against the fifth respondent in light of the interim award dated 6.2.2023 passed by the fourth respondent.

3. Learned Special Government Pleader submits that action is already initiated against the fifth respondent. The Vigilance Department has registered an FIR against the fifth respondent on 6.6.2023. Disciplinary proceedings against the erring officials is also initiated. Action is also contemplated against the beneficiaries, who have been wrongly benefited.

4. The interim award is passed by the Ombudsperson, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Coimbatore. The Ombudsperson, MGNREGS, may also proceed further to pass a final award, as may be permissible under the scheme.

5. As action is already initiated by the State authorities, no further orders are necessary.

6. The writ petition, as such, is disposed of. There will be no order as to costs.

(S.V.G., CJ.) (P.D.A., J.) 22.09.2023 Index :

Yes/No Yes/No bbr

To:

1.The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110 001.

2.The Principal Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

3.The District Collector, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - 641 113.

THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND P.D.AUDIKESAVALU,J.

bbr 22.09.2023