R.Gopinath v. The Chief Secretary To Government,
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Dated : 25.09.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and WMP.Nos.32233 of 2019 & 9512 of 2022 R.Gopinath ... Petitioner Vs 1.The Chief Secretary to Government Government of Tamil Nadu Fort St.George, Secretariat Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Inspector General of Registration No.100, Santhome High Road Chennai - 600 028.
3.The District Registrar (Admin.) Registrar of Societies Chennai Central Chennai - 600 014.
4.U.M.Selvaraj Rep by its State President of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Union State Centre, Functioning at No.62 Big Street, Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005.
New Address :
No.38, Samy Pillai Street, Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005. 1/8
5.K.Aravazhi State General Secretary of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Union State Centre, Functioning at No.62 Big Street, Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005.
New Address :
No.38, Samy Pillai Street Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005.
6.R.Pichai Muthu The State Rep by its State Treasury of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Union State Centre, Functioning at No.62 Big Street, Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005.
New Address :
No.38, Samy Pillai Street Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005.
... Respondents [R1 suo motu deleted from the array of respondents vide order dated 13.11.2019 made in W.P.No.31990 of 2019] Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st and 2nd respondents to prevent the proposed illegal conference and general body meeting notified by the 4th and 5th respondents scheduled to be held on 16.11.2019 and 17.11.2019 at Madurai-Pasumalai or on any subsequent date and issue a further order directing the 4th and 5th respondents to ensure the petitioner union namely "Tamil Nadu Government Employees Union" was not used by any other union in Tamil Nadu along with the certificate No.149 of 2009. 2/8
For Petitioner : Ms.Divya Jyothi Panday For Respondents : Mr.R.Sasi Kumar Government Advocate for R2 & R3 Mr.M.Gnanasekara for R5 R1 - Suo motu deleted
ORDER
The petitioner in his capacity as the State General Secretary of the petitioner-Union has filed the present writ petition seeking a mandamus to the 1st and 2nd respondents to prevent the proposed Conference and General Body Meeting notified by the 4th and 5th respondents scheduled to be held on 16.11.2019 and 17.11.2019 at Madurai-Pasumalai or on any subsequent date and also to issue a order directing the 4th and 5th respondents to ensure the petitioner union namely was not used by any other union in Tamil Nadu.
2. The petitioner would submit that one G.Paulpandian was elected as President and the fourth respondent was elected as Deputy General Secretary in the petitioner-Union on 17.03.2012. They served in the said posts till 02.05.2015. Thereafter, in the General Body Meeting held on 02.05.2015 and 03.05.2015, the fourth respondent declared himself as the President of 3/8
petitioner-Union, which unanimously was rejected by voice vote and hand raising. Therefore, the fourth and fifth respondent immediately walked out of the meeting and there was no election of new office bearers.
3. Be that as it may, some of the office bearers who were removed from petitioner-Union for involving in anti-union activities, had held two days conference in the name of the petitioner-Union. This was protested by G.Paulpandian, the former State President of the petitioner-Union. He filed a suit for permanent injunction in O.S.No.66 of 2012 on the file of Sub Court, Thiruvarur, restraining those persons from convening any meeting, advertising or collecting funds in the name of petitioner-Union. The suit was decreed on 25.08.2026. However, when there is a decree for permanent injunction from convening any meeting, advertising etc., the respondents 3 to 5 proposed to conduct the Sixth State Level Conference on 16.11.2019 and 17.11.2019 at Madurai Pasumalai as well as General Body Meeting. Since the said activities of the respondents is illegal, the present writ petition is filed.
4. The prayer sought for in the present writ petition is that without a proper election being conducted in the petitioner-Union, the respondents 4 to 6 4/8
have no locus standi to convene any conference, meeting etc. in the name of the petitioner-Union, the respondents 4 and 5 have notified the Sixth State Level Conference on 16.11.2019 and 17.11.2019 at Madurai Pasumalai. Further, this Court is also informed that the suit for permanent injunction in O.S.No.66 of 2012 was filed by the former State President of petitioner-Union and had obtained a decree on 25.08.2026 and the same is binding on the respondents 4 and 5, and however, no appeal has been filed as against the said decree. When such being the position, the present writ petition filed with the above prayer is not sustainable. Further, the date for holding the Conference at Madurai Pasumalai had already been lapsed and this Court has not granted any interim order at the time of admission, the relief sought for in the writ petition has become infructuous.
5. With the above observation, the writ petition is dismissed as infructuous, however, liberty is granted to the petitioner to challenge the outcome of the election in the manner known to law. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 25.09.2025 Index : Yes / No 5/8
Speaking order : Yes / No ds 6/8
To:
1.The Joint Sub Registrar-II Kancheepuram SRO Kamarajar Street, Taluk Office Campus Kancheepuram - 631 501.
2.The Sub Registrar No.23, South Mada Street Thiruporur - 603 110.
3.The Deputy Inspector General of Registration Electronic Complex Block III Thiru.vi.ka Industrial Estate, Guindy Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
4.The District Registrar-Kancheepuram Thenambakkam Panchayat Kancheepuram - 631 501.
5.The Inspector General of Registration No.100, Santhome High Road Chennai - 600 028.
Tamil Nadu, India.
7/8
M.DHANDAPANI,J., ds 25.09.2025 8/8