E.Palanivel Kumar v. The Managing Director
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 15.04.2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR and W.M.P.(MD) No.8047 of 2026 E.Palanivel Kumar ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Managing Director, 2.The General Manager, 3.The Branch Manager, (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., Tirunelveli - I Branch, Vannarapettai, Tirunelveli.
4.The Senior Deputy Manager (HRD), ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to refer the Page No. 1 of 6
petitioner to Regional Medical Board of Tirunelveli Medical College to ascertain his physical fitness to work as Driver cum Conductor and provide him suitable alternative employment on permanent basis at Tirunelveli-I Branch of the first respondent corporation and post him in any suitable post with light duty along with pay protection, continuity of service and back wages from the date of disengagement i.e., from 23.02.2026 to till the date on which he is provided with alternative light duty as per Section 20(4) of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 within a time frame that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.A.Rahul For Respondents : Mr.K.Senthil Kumar Standing Counsel ******
O R D E R
This Writ Petition has been filed for the issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to refer the petitioner to the Regional Medical Board of Tirunelveli Medical College to assess his physical fitness to continue work as Driver-cum-Conductor and to provide him with suitable alternative employment on a permanent basis at the Tirunelveli-I Branch of the first respondent Corporation and also further directing the respondents to post him in any suitable post involving light duty, with pay protection, continuity of service and back wages from the Page No. 2 of 6
date of disengagement, i.e., from 23.02.2026, till the date on which he is provided with such alternative light duty, in accordance with Section 20(4) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
2. It is the case of the petitioner that he is suffering from Coronary Artery Disease, Double Vessel Disease, Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Systemic Hypertension and is unable to discharge his functions as a Driver-cum-Conductor in the respondent Corporation. Therefore, he made a request to refer him to the Medical Board for examination to assess his fitness to continue in the said post. However, the said request has not been considered. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has approached this Court by filing the present Writ Petition.
3. Mr.K.Senthil Kumar, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent Corporation, on instructions, fairly submitted that the respondent Corporation would take appropriate steps to refer the petitioner to the Medical Board. He further submitted that the petitioner may be referred to the Medical Board at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai.
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4. In the light of the above, without going further deep into the merits of the matter, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent Corporation to refer the petitioner to the Medical Board at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and to act upon the report of the Medical Board within a further period of four weeks from the date of receipt of such report. The issue with regard to the petitioner's entitlement to wages for the period during which he was out of employment is left open to be agitated separately. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 15.04.2026 JEN NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No To 1.The Managing Director, Page No. 4 of 6
2.The General Manager, 3.The Branch Manager, (Tamil Nadu) Ltd., Tirunelveli - I Branch, Vannarapettai, Tirunelveli.
4.The Senior Deputy Manager (HRD), Page No. 5 of 6
MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR , J.
JEN 15.04.2026 Page No. 6 of 6