Vijayapandian S v. The Principal Cm Secretary

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 09.01.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN S.Vijayapandian ... Petitioner -vs1.The Principal CM Secretary Chief Minister's Secretariat Chennai-600 009 2.The Chief Secretary of Tamilnadu The Office of Secretariat, Chennai 3.The Director The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting No.26, Shastri Bhavan Haddows Road, Greams Road Chennai-600 006 4.The Director Information Technology and Digital Services Government of Tamilnadu Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai Fort St.George, Secretariat Chennai-600 009

5.The Special Director General Telecom Authority of Tamilnadu III Floor, TNT Complex Building No.60, Ethiraj Salai Chennai-600 009 6.The Director The Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd., No.11/22, Mangadu Sami Street Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034 7.The Director The Ministry Development Information & Publicity The Office Secretariat Chennai-600 009 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to execute the District Revenue Media Channels in Tamilnadu and Telecast the Government functions, which gives the guarantee for the fundamental rights of Article 19(1) and 21 to the Tamil Nadu People by considering the petitioner's representation dated 14.07.2025 submitted to the respondents. For Petitioner :

S.Vijayapandian Party-in-Person For Respondents :

Mr.P.Thilakkumar Government Pleader for R1, R2, R4 & R7 Mr.V.Sasi Kumar Senior Panel Counsel for R3

O R D E R

[Order of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.] The petitioner herein, claiming himself to be a public-spirited person, has filed this writ petition seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to establish and operate District Revenue Media Channels in the State of Tamil Nadu and to telecast government functions on such channels, thereby ensuring the fundamental rights of citizens guaranteed under Articles 19(1) and 21 of the Constitution of India.

2. The petitioner appears to be a law graduate and a practising Advocate. On 14.07.2025, he sent a representation to the respondents and others stating that most private media outlets are sponsored by political parties and that access to unbiased information is therefore not available. He further contended that there must be District Revenue Media Channels in the State of Tamil Nadu to ensure the fundamental rights of citizens under Articles 19(1) and 21 of the Constitution of India. According to the petitioner, news is not merely a message but constitutes the knowledge of the people. He further stated that while other States in India have District Revenue Media Channels, the same should also be adopted in the State of Tamil Nadu. Since

the said representation of the petitioner has not been considered by the respondents, he has filed the present writ petition seeking the relief stated above.

3. On perusing the records, we are of the view that the representation and the demand made by the petitioner do not fall within the scope of Articles 19(1) and 21 of the Constitution of India. Further, Courts cannot mandate the State Government to create District Revenue Media Channels for the purpose stated in the petitioner's representation. Therefore, this writ petition is liable to be dismissed.

4. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed as devoid of merits. No costs.

[G.J., J.] [K.K.R.K., J.] 09.01.2026 NCC :

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To:

1.The Principal CM Secretary, Chief Minister's Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2.The Chief Secretary of Tamilnadu, The Office of Secretariat, Chennai.

3.The Director , The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, No.26, Shastri Bhavan, Haddows Road, Greams Road, Chennai-600 006.

4.The Director , Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamilnadu, Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

7.The Director, The Ministry Development Information & Publicity, The Office Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.

AND K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN, J.

krk 09.01.2026