Natarajan.T v. The Managing Director

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.09.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE T.Natarajan ... Petitioner -vs1.The Managing Director State Express Transport Corporation Pallavan Street, Chennai-2 2.The General Manager (Administration) State Express Transport Corporation Pallavan Street, Chennai-600 002 3.The Branch Manager State Express Transport Corporation Ltd., Kanyakumari Branch, Kanyakumari Kanyakumari District ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent No.3 to treat the period from 26.11.2021 to 29.11.2021 as the duty period and consequently to rectify the reduction in salary of the petitioner for the month of December 2021.

For Petitioner :

Mr.S.Louis For Respondents :

Mr.K.Sathiya Singh Standing Counsel for R1 No appearance for R2 & R3

O R D E R

This writ petition has been filed for a mandamus seeking for a direction to the third respondent to treat the period from 26.11.2021 to 29.11.2021 as duty period and consequently to rectify the reduction in salary of the petitioner for the month of December 2021.

2. A counter affidavit has been filed by the respondents denying the contentions of the petitioner. They would contend that the petitioner did not turn up for duty from 25.11.2021 till 30.11.2021.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that if a personal hearing is granted to the petitioner, he will be able to establish that he had reported for duty on all the dates, namely, from 26.11.2021 till 29.11.2021.

4. No prejudice will be caused to the respondents, if the petitioner's representation seeking to treat the period from 26.11.2021 to 29.11.2021 as duty period and to rectify the reduction in salary of the petitioner for the month of December 2021, is considered on merits and in accordance with law, after affording an opportunity to the petitioner by the third respondent.

5. Accordingly, this Court directs the petitioner to submit a fresh representation to the third respondent requesting him to treat the period from 26.11.2021 to 29.11.2021 as duty period and to rectify the reduction in his salary for the month of December 2021, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt of such representation within the stipulated time, the third respondent shall pass final orders on merits and in accordance with law, after affording one personal hearing to the petitioner, within a period of eight weeks thereafter.

6. With the aforesaid direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.

11.09.2025 NCC :

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ABDUL QUDDHOSE, J.

krk 11.09.2025