D.Soundararajan v. The Principal Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 14.10.2025
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA D.Soundararajan
...Petitioner
Vs.
1.
The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department & Chairman, TWAD Board, Chennai - 600 009.
2.
The Managing Director, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 3.
The Joint Managing Director, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 4.
The Finance Director, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 5.
The Administrative Officer, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 6.
The Chief Engineer, 1/8
No.30, Bharathi Park Road, Siruvani Nagar, Coimbatore - 641 043.
7.
The Superintending Engineer, Erode Circle, No.2, CMSJ Nagar, Kaniravuthar Kulam, (Near Kannan Petrol Bunk), Veerappam Chatram (PO), Erode - 638 004.
8.
The Executive Engineer, RWS Division, RWS Division, Avinashi Road, Tirupur - 641 602. 9.
The Executive Engineer, Maint Division, No.5(1), 2nd Floor, College Road, 2nd Cross, Oddakadu, Tirppur - 641 602.
10. The Executive Engineer, Maintenance Division, Maintenance Division, Commercial Complex, Avinashi Road, Tiruppur - 641 602.
...Respondents
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 11.08.2025 within a time frame fixed by this Hon'ble Court, and to extend parity in designation and pay scale by granting promotion to Fitter Grade II (Special) with effect from the date his colleagues were promoted, with all consequential benefits including arrears of pay.
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For Petitioner : Ms.M.Jayanthi For Respondents : Mr.C.Selvaraj, AGP, for R1 : Ms.S.Mekhala, Standing Counsel, for R2 to R10
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed seeking to direct the respondents to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 11.08.2025 and for a consequential direction to the respondents to extend parity in designation and pay scale by granting promotion to Fitter Grade II (Special) with effect from the date on which his colleagues were promoted, with all consequential benefits, including arrears of pay.
2. Mr.C.Selvaraj, learned Additional Government Pleader takes notice on behalf of the 1st respondent and Ms.S.Mekhala, learned Standing Counsel takes notice on behalf of the respondents 2 to 10. In view of the consent expressed by the learned counsel on either side, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
3. The case of the petitioner is that, he was initially appointed as a 3/8
Nominal Muster Roll (in short 'NMR') Fitter Grade II in the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (in short 'TWAD') on 01.08.1990 under temporary daily wages category and was subsequently appointed as Fitter Grade II on 05.05.1995, pursuant to the proceedings bearing No.D4/19771/95 dated 12.04.1995. Though, several colleagues of the petitioner, who were appointed under the above said proceedings were promoted to Fitter Grade II (Special), the petitioner, however, has been continued as a Fitter Grade II (Selection). Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner made several representations before the respondents seeking to promote him as Fitter Grade II (Special) with effect from the date on which his similarly placed colleagues were promoted and to fix the petitioner's pay in the scale of Rs.35,000/- to Rs.
1,12,400/- with all consequential arrears and also to restore the petitioner's seniority in accordance with the 1995 proceedings and the last representation sent by the petitioner in this regard was on 11.08.2025. However, as the same evoked no response, the petitioner has come up with this writ petition.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that, it would suffice, 4/8
if this Court issues a direction to the respondents to consider the petitioner's representation dated 11.08.2025 and to consequently extend parity in designation and pay scale, by granting promotion to the petitioner to the post of Fitter Grade II (Special) with effect from the date on which his colleagues were promoted, with all consequential benefits, including arrears of pay.
5. Learned counsels appearing for the respective respondents submitted that, appropriate orders will be passed on the petitioner's representation dated 11.08.2025 within the time stipulated by this Court.
6. In view of the above, this Court, without going into the merits of the case, directs the 2nd respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 11.08.2025 and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner.
7. With the above directions, this writ petition stands disposed of. No costs.
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14.10.2025 skt Index : Yes/No Speaking order : Yes/No NCC : Yes/No To:
1.
The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department & Chairman, TWAD Board, Chennai - 600 009.
2.
The Managing Director, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 3.
The Joint Managing Director, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 4.
The Finance Director, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 5.
The Administrative Officer, No.31, Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk, Chenani - 600 005. 6.
The Chief Engineer, No.30, Bharathi Park Road, Siruvani Nagar, Coimbatore - 641 043.
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7.
The Superintending Engineer, Erode Circle, No.2, CMSJ Nagar, Kaniravuthar Kulam, (Near Kannan Petrol Bunk), Veerappam Chatram (PO), Erode - 638 004.
8.
The Executive Engineer, RWS Division, RWS Division, Avinashi Road, Tirupur - 641 602. 9.
The Executive Engineer, Maint Division, No.5(1), 2nd Floor, College Road, 2nd Cross, Oddakadu, Tirppur - 641 602.
10. The Executive Engineer, Maintenance Division, Maintenance Division, Commercial Complex, Avinashi Road, Tiruppur - 641 602.
A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.
skt 7/8
14.10.2025 8/8