Swamimalai Sundara Vimal Nathan v. Union Of India
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 23.04.2025
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE J. NISHA BANU AND THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY Swamimalai Sundara Vimal Nathan
...Petitioner
-Vs1.Union of India, Represented by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110 001.
2.Union of India, Represented by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 100 001.
3.Union of India, Represented by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg, New Delhi - 100 001.
4.The Director, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Ministry of Rural Development, Union of India, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-100 001.
1/10
5.State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
6.State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by the Agricultural Production Commissioner / Principal Secretary, Agriculture - Farmers Welfare Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 7.The Commissioner, Commissionerate of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
8.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Madurai District - 625 020.
9.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tiruchirapalli District - 620 001.
10.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Karur District - 639 007.
11.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thanjavur District - 613 010.
12.The Project Director, District Rural Development Agency / Panchayat Raj, Collectorate, Thanjavur District - 613 010. 13.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Theni District - 625 531. 2/10
14.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Dindigul District - 624 004.
15.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Pudukkottai District - 623 303.
16.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Sivagangai District - 630 562.
17.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Virudhunagar District - 626 002.
18.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Ramanathapuram District - 623 503.
19.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tirunelveli District - 627 009.
20.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thoothukudi District - 628 101.
21.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tenkasi District - 627 811.
22.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Kanniyakumari District - 629 001.
...Respondents
PRAYER:Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent No.1 to 3/10
4 to take appropriate action to disburse the pending wages to the beneficiaries including Differently Abled Persons of Thanajvur District and other part of Tamil Nadu who are enrolled and served under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from the period of Novermber 2024 to March 2025, consequently direct the respondent No.1 to 4 to disburse the wages with the Bank Interest for the belated payment to the respective beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme without any delay in future by considering the petitioner's representation dated 28.03.2025 in accordance with law within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : DR.R.Alagumani For R1 to R4 : Mr.K.Govindarajan Deputy Solicitor General of India For R5 to R22 : Mr.P.Thilak Kumar Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by J.NISHA BANU, J.) By consent, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2.This writ petition is filed to direct the respondents 1 to 4 to take appropriate action to disburse the pending wages to the beneficiaries including Differently Abled Persons of Thanajvur District and other part of Tamil Nadu, who are enrolled and served under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment 4/10
Guarantee Scheme from the period of November 2024 to March 2025, consequently direct the respondents 1 to 4 to disburse the wages with the Bank Interest for the belated payment to the respective beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme without any delay in future by considering the petitioner's representation dated 28.03.2025. 3.The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was introduced for the purpose of enhancing the livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment for the adult members to maintain their financial status and for their development. As per the said scheme, 100 days works are carried through out Tamil Nadu.
However, the workers were not paid with the wages for the past one year. The petitioner has also sent a detailed representation to the authorities concerned to disburse the wages to the respective workers in Tamil Nadu under the said Scheme. However, the same was not considered. Hence, the petitioner has filed this writ petition. 4.The learned Government Pleader appearing for the official respondents submits that with regard to payment of wages, the workers has not come forward to file any complaint before the authorities concerned.
workers are aggrieved, it is for them to file a private complaint before the authorities concerned in the manner known to law. 5.Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and also perused the materials placed on record.
6.Though the petitioner has filed this Public Interest Litigation seeking to direct the respondents to disburse the pending wagers to the workers, who worked under the Scheme, none of the workers are before this Court. Hence, we are of the view that if the workers are aggrieved, they can always approach the appropriate authority or the appropriate forum to redress their grievances. Therefore, the prayer made by the petitioner is devoid of merits and accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs.
(J.N.B.,J.) (S.S.Y.,J.) 23.04.2025 Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No ta 6/10
To 1.The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110 001.
2.The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 100 001.
3.The Principal Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg, New Delhi - 100 001.
4.The Director, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Ministry of Rural Development, Union of India, Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-100 001.
5.The Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
6.The Agricultural Production Commissioner / Principal Secretary, Agriculture - Farmers Welfare Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Fort St.George, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009. 7.The Commissioner, Commissionerate of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005.
7/10
8.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Madurai District - 625 020.
9.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tiruchirapalli District - 620 001.
10.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Karur District - 639 007.
11.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thanjavur District - 613 010.
12.The Project Director, District Rural Development Agency / Panchayat Raj, Collectorate, Thanjavur District - 613 010. 13.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Theni District - 625 531. 14.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Dindigul District - 624 004.
15.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Pudukkottai District - 623 303.
16.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Sivagangai District - 630 562.
17.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Virudhunagar District - 626 002.
18.The District Collector, 8/10
Office of the District Collector, Ramanathapuram District - 623 503.
19.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tirunelveli District - 627 009.
20.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Thoothukudi District - 628 101.
21.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Tenkasi District - 627 811.
22.The District Collector, Office of the District Collector, Kanniyakumari District - 629 001.
9/10
J. NISHA BANU,J.
and S.SRIMATHY.
ta 23.04.2025 10/10