K.Sengottuvel v. Gagandeep Singh Bedi And 2 Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 27-03-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR K.Sengottuvel Petitioner Vs

1. Mr.Gagandeep Singh Bedi Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchyat Raj, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

2.Dr.R.Brindha Devi, District Collector, Salem District, Salem.

3.Muthusamy, Commissioner, Sankagiri Panchayat Union, Sankagiri, Salem District.

Contemnors PRAYER Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, to punish the Respondents for wilful disobedience of the order of this Court dated 27.06.2013 passed in W.P. No.17281 of 2013. For Petitioner:

Mr.P.Muthusamy For Respondents:

Mr.L.S.M.Hasan Fizal, Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

This Contempt Application is filed to punish the respondents for their wilful disobedience of the order of this Court, dated 27.06.2013 in W.P. No.17281 of 2013.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents.

3. The petitioner contends that this Court by order dated 27.06.2013 in W.P. No.17281 of 2013, directed the respondents to grant selection grade pay to the petitioner and also to give him arrears with effect from 01.03.2011, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order; that the respondents though have complied with the aforesaid order initially, thereafter stopped paying amounts in the year 2017 and also sought to recover the selection grade pay which was paid to the petitioner pursuant to the order of this Court dated 27.06.2013 by issuing proceedings dated 29.08.2017; that aggrieved by the aforesaid action of the respondents, the petitioner had approached this Court once again by way of W.P.No.25381 of 2017 and this Court by order dated 27.01.2022, had allowed the writ petition, granting relief sought for inter alia restraining the respondents from recovering the amount paid to the petitioner in selection grade and also continue to make payment towards selection grade pay to the petitioner; and that the respondents in spite of

the writ petition having allowed, have not complied with the order by continuing to pay the selection grade pay to the petitioner and thus, the respondents are in contempt of the order passed by this Court on 27.06.2013.

4. However, a perusal of the proceedings would show that the respondents have complied with the order of this Court dated 27.06.2013 in W.P.No.17281 of 2013 from the year 2013 till about 2017. When the respondents issued proceedings dated 29.08.2017 (impugned in W.P.No.25381 of 2017), stopping payment of selection grade pay to the petitioner and also sought to recover the payment made pursuant to order of this Court in W.P.No.17281 of 2013, the petitioner approached this Court assailing the action of the respondents in issuing said proceeding by filing Writ Petition vide W.P.No.25381 of 2017.

5. This Court by order dated 27.01.2022, had granted the relief sought for by the petitioner in W.P.No.25381 of 2017. Since, the petitioner alleges that despite this Court having granted the relief in the aforesaid writ petition, the respondents having not complied with the said direction, and as such the respondents are acting in wilful disobedience of the order of this Court, it is to be noted that if at all any Contempt is committed by the respondents, the said Contempt is of the Order of this Court dated 27.01.2022. Thus, the petitioner is required to initiate contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, for wilful disobedience and non compliance of the order, dated

27.01.2022 and not against the order dated 27.06.2013 in W.P.No.17281 of 2013 which has already been complied with by the respondents.

6. Thus, the present Contempt Petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

27-03-2026 vum Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order To

1. Mr.Gagandeep Singh Bedi Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchyat Raj, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

2.Dr.R.Brindha Devi, District Collector, Salem District, Salem.

3.Mr.Muthusamy, Commissioner, Sankagiri Panchayat Union, Sankagiri, Salem District.

T.VINOD KUMAR J.

vum 27-03-2026