M.Kathavarayan v. The Management

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 02-01-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI WP No. 49923 of 2025 M.Kathavarayan, Conductor, S/o.Mahalingam, No.4/11, Vepilaipatti, Kethureddipatti Post, Pappireddipatti Taluk, Dharmapuri 635302.

..Petitioner Vs The Management, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation (Salem) Ltd., Dharmapuri Region, Bharathipuram, Salem Main Road, Dharmapuri 5.

..Respondent(s) Prayer:

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 22.08.2025 and to reinstate the petitioner in service with continuity of service and to pay arrears of salary and other benefits. For Petitioner:

Mr.CH.Mohith Sai For Respondent:

Mr.K.Raja __________Page 1 of 5

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 22.08.2025 and to reinstate the petitioner in service with continuity of service and to pay arrears of salary and other benefits.

2. Heard the learned counsels on either side. With the consent of both sides, the Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the admission stage itself.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that on 07.05.2022, the petitioner, being a conductor, boarded the bus bearing registration No.TN29B2732, which was scheduled to ply in the Dharmapuri to Coimbatore route and on that day, the ticket checking authorities verified the tickets of the passengers, where the petitioner has correctly submitted Rs.14,400/- [60 tickets for Rs.240], however, the respondent issued a charge memo alleging that the petitioner received a sum of Rs.240/- as ticket fare from a passenger, however, failed to provide the ticket to the said passenger and illegally took the said amount. He added that though a detailed reply was sent to the charge memo by the petitioner and participated in the domestic enquiry, the respondent issued a permanent termination to the petitioner without proving the allegations with sufficient evidence and besides the above, the respondent filed a petition on the file of __________Page 2 of 5

Special Joint Commissioner of Labour, Chennai to seek approval for termination order dated 20.09.2023. He continued that the said authority refused to grant approval for the termination order dated 20.09.2023, alleging various violations and therefore, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 22.08.2025 to reinstate him with full back wages and other monetary benefits, but till now the said representation has not been considered and hence, the present petition.

4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, there shall be a direction to the respondent to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 22.08.2025 on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no orders as to costs.

02.01.2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DP __________Page 3 of 5

To The Management, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation (salem) Ltd., Dharmapuri Region, Bharathipuram, Salem Main Road, Dharmapuri 5.

__________Page 4 of 5

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

DP WP No. 49923 of 2025 02.01.2026 __________Page 5 of 5