M.Arockiam v. The Management Of State Express Transport Corporation

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED :02.04.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MRS JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY M.Arockiam ... Petitioner Vs

1. The Management of State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., Rep. by its Managing Director,

2. The General Manager, State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd.

3. The Branch Manager, State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., Tuticorin Branch, Ettayapuram Road, Tuticorin - 628 002.

4. The Senior Deputy Manager (HRD), State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., 1/6

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to refer the petitioner to the medical board of Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, where he underwent surgery to ascertain his physical fitness to work as Driver as well as in the post of Conductor in the long distance Buses of the 1st respondent and to provide him suitable alternative light work depending upon his health condition, with pay protection, continuity of service and back wages payable from 09.07.2025 to 20.08.2025, 21.07.2025 to 06.02.2026 and from 17.03.2026 to till the date of providing the petitioner light duty. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Rahul For Respondents : Mr.K.Senthil Kumar Standing Counsel

O R D E R

The present writ petition is filed for a Mandamus to direct the respondents to refer the petitioner to the medical board of Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, where he underwent surgery to ascertain his physical fitness to work as Driver as well as in the post of Conductor in the long distance Buses of the first respondent and to provide him suitable alternative light work depending upon his health condition, with 2/6

pay protection, continuity of service and back wages payable from 09.07.2025 to 20.08.2025, 21.07.2025 to 06.02.2026 and from 17.03.2026 to till the date of providing light duty to the petitioner.

2. The petitioner was working as Driver-cum-Conductor in the respondents Corporation and he was made permanent on 26.06.2018. However, in April 2018, the petitioner sustained three stab injuries in his abdomen and below his left shoulder, due to which he underwent a surgery called' laparotomy', which is a surgical procedure in which a large incision is made in his belly for treating internal injuries/stab wounds and further, he underwent 'jejuno ascending anastomosis', which is a procedure where bypasses or reconnects the intestine by directly joining the small intestine with large intestine and this procedure was done because of severe intestinal injury, namely, stab wounds.

3. Now the petitioner relying on the discharge summary, where it has been stated that the petitioner underwent surgery seeking alternative employment. The petitioner is, in fact, ready and willing to appear before the Medical Board.

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4. The learned Standing Counsel for the respondents would submit that the petitioner may be referred to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai and the first respondent is the appropriate authority to consider the same.

5. The petitioner is residing at Thiruchuli, Virudhungar district and in fact, he underwent surgery in the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai. Hence, it is unnecessary to refer the petitioner to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai. Therefore, the first respondent is directed to refer the petitioner to the Medical Board attached to the Virudhunagar Medical College Hospital, Virudhunagar, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. The Medical Board, Virudhunagar Medical College Hospital, Virudhunagar is directed to issue certificate/report within four weeks from the date of appearance of the petitioner. The first respondent shall consider the report issued by the Medical Board for granting alternative employment to the petitioner. The other issues raised in this writ petition also left open for the petitioner to agitate the same in the manner known 4/6

to law.

7. With these directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. NCS : Yes/No 02.04.2026 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No apd Note: Issue on 07.04.2026 To

1. The Management of State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., Rep. by its Managing Director,

2. The General Manager, State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd.

3. The Branch Manager, State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., Tuticorin Branch, Ettayapuram Road, Tuticorin - 628 002.

4. The Senior Deputy Manager (HRD), State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., 5/6

S.SRIMATHY.,J.

apd ORDER MADE IN 02.04.2026 6/6