C.Manikandan (Deceased) v. Mangat Ram Sharma, I.A.S., And 3 Others
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 27-03-2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR SUB APPL.No.334 of 2026 in CONT.P.DR.No.206110 of 2025 C.Manikandan (Deceased)
1. K.Rajeswari
2. Ragul @ Veeraiah
3. Prasanna
4. V.Malaisamy Applicants Vs
1. Thiru.Mangat Ram Sharma, I.A.S., Secretary, Public Works Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 9.
2.Er.R.Gopalakrishnan, B.E., Chief Engineer (General) & Engineer in Chief, Public Works Department, Chepauk, Chennai-5.
3. Thiru.C.Nedunchezhian Principal Accountant General (Accounts and Entitlement), No.361, Anna Salai, Chennai-18.
4.Thiru.S.Mayilvahanan Asst. Executive Engineer, PWD/WRO, Periyar Vaigai Basin, Sub-Division, Uthamapalayam.
Respondents 1/4
PRAYER in Sub Application Sub Application filed to grant leave to substitute the petitioners 1 to 3 herein / the Legal representatives of C.Manikandan as petitioners in Cont.P.DR.No.206110 of 2025 in W.P. No.28581 of 2012 dated 21.03.2024.
Prayer in Contempt Petition: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents herein for wilful disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P.No.28581 of 2012, dated 21.03.2024.
For Applicants:
Mr.L.Chandrakumar For Respondents:
Mr.L.S.M.Hasan Fizal, Additional Government Pleader
ORDER
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the Respondents.
2. The petitioner by the present application seeks leave to substitute the petitioners herein as petitioners in the Contempt Petition to initiate Contempt against the respondents.
3. This Court by order dated 01.06.2023 in Cont.P.Nos.2599 & 3033 of 2025 and Cont.P.No.2706 of 2025 had considered the scope of Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act and Article 215 of the Constitution of India, and also as to what would be constitute continuing cause of action. 2/4
4. This Court having regard to the law declared by the Hon'ble Apex Court has held that Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, being a specific provision, the contempt petitions have to be filed within one year when the cause of action arises.
5. Admittedly, neither the original petitioner nor the legal representatives of the deceased petitioner have initiated contempt proceedings within the limitation prescribed under the Contempts of Courts Act, 1971. Thus, this Court is of the considered view that the present Sub application as filed is devoid of merits and accordingly, the same is dismissed. The Contempt Petition is rejected at the DR stage.
27-03-2026 vum Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order 3/4
T. VINOD KUMAR,J.
vum To 1.Thiru.Mangat Ram Sharma, I.A.S., Secretary, Public Works Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 9.
2.Er.R.Gopalakrishnan, Chief Engineer (General) and Engineer In Chief, Public Works Department, Chepauk, Chennai-5.
3.Thiru.C.Nedunchezhian Principal Accountant General (Accounts and Entitlement), No.361, Anna Salai, Chennai-18.
4.Thiru.S.Mayilvahanan Asst. Executive Engineer, PWD/WRO, Periyar Vaigai Basin, Sub-Division, Uthamapalayam.
SUB APPL.No.334 of 2026 in CONT.P.DR.No.206110 of 2025 27-03-2026 4/4