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Madras High CourtWP/30334/2025allowed

K.Punitha v. The Chief Engineer / Distribution

2025-08-13Honourable Ms. Justice P.T. Asha5 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 13.08.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Ms. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA K. Punitha ... Petitioner Vs.

The Chief Engineer/Distribution, TANGEDCO, Vellore-06.

...Respondent

Prayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ Writ of Mandamus or any other Writ, Order or Direction in the nature of Writ to issue directions to the Respondent herein to consider the Petitioner's representation dated 14.05.2025 and to revoke the Petitioner's suspension order issued by the Respondent herein in Memo No.003346/185/Adm./A3/2025 dated 05.04.2025 within a limited time frame as deemed fit by this Honl3le Court.

For Petitioner : M/s.P.Ezhil Nilavan For Respondent : M/s.C.Manoharan, Standing Counsel for the sole respondent.

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O R D E R

The Writ Petition is filed for the following reliefs:- "to issue directions to the Respondent herein to consider the Petitioner's representation dated 14.05.2025 and to revoke the Petitioner's suspension order issued by the Respondent herein in Memo No.003346/185/Adm./A3/2025 dated 05.04.2025 within a limited time frame as deemed fit by this Honl3le Court."

2. It is the case of the petitioner that she was initially appointed as a Technical Assistant on 06.10.1989. She was subsequently promoted to the post of Junior Engineer Grade-II in 1995, followed by a promotion to Junior Engineer Grade-I in 1999. Thereafter, she was promoted to her current position of Assistant Executive Engineer on 05.03.2018.

3. The petitioner would submit that while she was rendering sincere and efficient service as an Assistant Executive Engineer, she was falsely implicated and subsequently arrested in a criminal case alleging that she had demanded a bribe of Rs.50,000/- from one Mr. 2/5

G. Saravanan for effecting a change in the electricity tariff from domestic to commercial connection.

4. Since the petitioner was falsely implicated and arrested in a criminal case, the respondent by order dated 05.04.2025 had suspended the petitioner with effect from 03.04.2025. The petitioner would submit that she is currently receiving 50% of her salary as subsisting allowance.

5. The petitioner would submit that as the criminal case is not progressing and the charge sheet has not yet been filed, she had made a representation dated 14.05.2025 to the respondent seeking revocation of her prolonged suspension. However, though the representation was received by the respondent on 16.05.2025, it has not been considered to date. Hence, this Writ Petition.

6. Heard the learned counsel on either side.

7. Considering the limited request of the petitioner and taking 3/5

into account the fact that the respondent, who is duty-bound to dispose of the statutory representation, has failed to discharge his obligation as the petitioner's representation dated 16.05.2025 has not been disposed of by the respondent to date, the Writ Petition is allowed. A mandamus is issued to the respondent to pass orders on the petitioner's representation dated 16.05.2025 within a period of 2 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 13.08.2025 (shr) Index : Yes/No Speaking Order: Yes/No To The Chief Engineer/Distribution, TANGEDCO, Vellore-06.

P.T. ASHA . J., 4/5

(shr) 13.08.2025 5/5