M.Prabu v. The Assistant Commissioner (St)

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 23.01.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY & W.M.P(MD)No1270 & 1272 of 2026 M.Prabu Legal heir of the Deceased Proprietor G.Mayandi of M/s.Neevi Enterprises NO.12, Selvam Nagar Goodshed Road, Thiruvapor Pudukkottai District 622 003 ... Petitioner Vs.

The Assistant Commissioner (ST) Pudukottai -1 Assessment Circle Pudukottai.

... Respondents Prayer:

Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for records pertaining to the impugned orders passed by the Respondent vide his order in Reference No. 33CULPM9920J1Z6/2020-21 dated 08-02-2025 and quash the same as it is illegal, without Jurisdiction and in gross violation of Principles of Natural Justice.

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For Petitioner : Mr.A. Satheesh Murugan For Respondent : Mr.R.Suresh Kumar, AGP

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed challenging the impugned order dated 08.02.2025 passed by the respondent.

2. Mr.R.Suresh Kumar, learned Additional Government Pleader, takes notice on behalf of the respondent.

3. By consent of the parties, the main petition is taken up for disposal at the stage of admission itself.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that in this case, the petitioner's father was passed away on 26.09.2023. However, without considering the same, the show cause notice dated 23.11.2024 was issued and subsequently, the impugned order dated 08.02.2025 has also been passed against the petitioner's father, who is a dead person. Hence, he would contend that the said impugned order, which was 2/6

passed against a dead person, is non-est in law and the same is liable to be set aside.

5. Further, he would submit that now, the petitioner, who is one of the legal heirs of the deceased Proprietor, is willing to file reply to the show cause notice dated 23.11.2024 issued by the respondent. Hence, he requests this Court to pass appropriate orders

6. In reply, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent have confirmed the submissions made by the petitioner and they had fairly admitted that the impugned order was passed against the petitioner's father, who is a dead person. Hence, he requests this Court to pass appropriate orders.

7. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondent and also perused the materials available on record.

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8. In the case on hand, the petitioner's father was died as early as on 26.09.2023. Thereafter, a show cause notice dated 23.11.2024 was issued and the impugned order dated 08.02.2025 was passed by the respondent against the petitioner's father, who is a dead person.

9. As rightly contended by the petitioner, an order, which was passed against a dead person, is non-est in law and the same is liable to be set aside. Now, the petitioner, who is one of the Legal Heirs of the deceased Proprietor, undertakes to file a reply to the show cause notice on behalf of all the legal heirs. Therefore, this Court is inclined to set aside the impugned order and remand the matter back to the respondent. Accordingly, this Court passes the following order: (i) The impugned order dated 08.02.2025 is set aside and the matter is remanded to the respondent for fresh consideration.

(ii) The petitioner, in his capacity as a legal heir of the deceased, shall file their reply/objection along with the required documents, if any, for the show cause notice dated 23.11.2024, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. 4/6

(iii) On filing of such reply/objection by the petitioner, the respondent shall consider the same and issue a 14 days clear notice, by fixing the date of personal hearing, to the petitioner and thereafter, pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law, after hearing the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible.

10. With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are also closed.

23.01.2026 Speaking/Non-speaking order Index : Yes / No nsa To The Assistant Commissioner (ST) Pudukottai -1 Assessment Circle Pudukottai.

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KRISHNAN RAMASAMY.J., nsa & W.M.P(MD)No1270 & 1272 of 2026 23.01.2026 6/6