Madras High CourtWP(MD)/14022/2021disposed of

Chellapandian.K v. The Additional Chief Secretary To Government

2023-12-21Honourable Mr Justice N. Anand Venkatesh60 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 21.12.2023

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N. ANAND VENKATESH K.Chellapandian .. Petitioner Vs.

1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

2.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

3.The Additional Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

4.The Principal Secretary to Government, Law Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

5.The Principal Secretary to Government, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

6.The Principal Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

7.The Principal Secretary to Government, Revenue Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

8.The Principal Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

9.The Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

10.The Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

11.The Principal Secretary to Government, Agriculture Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

12.The Principal Secretary to Government, Tourism,Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

13.The Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

14.The Principal Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

15.The Principal Secretary to Government, Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

16.The Principal Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

17.The Principal Secretary to Government, Highways and Minor Ports Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat,Chennai.

18.The Principal Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

19.The Principal Secretary to Government, Home (Courts) Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

20.The Principal Secretary to Government, Industries Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

21.The Principal Secretary to Government, Public (Foreigners-I) Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

22.The Principal Secretary to Government, Finance (Pay Cell) Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

23.The Principal Secretary to Government, Co-Operation Food and Consumer Protection Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

24.The Principal Secretary to Government, Archeology, Tamil Valarchi Valagam, Tamizh Salai, Egmore, Chennai.

25.The Principal Secretary to Government, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

26.The Principal Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

27.The Principal Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

28.The Principal Secretary to Government, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

29.The Principal Secretary to Government, Public (Military) Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

30.The Principal Secretary to Government, Energy Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

31.The Principal Secretary to Government, Public Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

32.The Principal Secretary to Government, Public (Law & Order) Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

33.The Principal Secretary/Commissioner, Transport Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

34.The Secretary to Government, Tamilnadu State Election Commission, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

35.The Secretary to Government, Tamil Development and Information Department, Fort St. George, Secretariat, Chennai.

36.The Director General of Police, Mylapore, Chennai.

37.The Director General of Police, CBCID, Chennai.

38.The State Election Commissioner, Tamilnadu State Election Commission, No.208/2, Jeawaharlal Nehru, Opposite CMBT, Arumbakkam, Chennai-106.

39.The Inspector General of Registration, Santhome High Road, Chennai.

40.The Secretary, Tamilnadu Public Service Commission, TNPSC Road Park Town, V.O.C. Nagar, Chennai - 600 003.

41.The Chairman, Tamilnadu Uniform Service Recruitment Board, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai.

42.The Director of Vigilance And Anti Corruption, No.293, M.K.N.Road, Alandur Road, Chennai.

43.The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Road, Chennai.

44.The Director General of Police cum Inspector General of Prisons, Egmore, Chennai - 600 032.

45.The Additional Director General of Police cum Director General of Prisons, Whannels Road, Egmore, Chennai - 600 032.

46.Inspector General of Prisons, Chennai - 600 008.

47.The Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Madurai.

48.The Superintendent of Police, CBCID, Egmore, Chennai.

49.The Director, Geology and Mining Department, Guindy, Chennai -32.

50.The Director, Town Panchayat, Kuralagam, 4th Floor, Parrys Cornor, Chennai - 600 108.

51.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable Tv Corporation Ltd., Dugar Towers, 6th Floor, No.34 (123) Marshalls Road, Egmore-8.

52.The Director of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, Chennai.

53.The Director, Directorate of Medical and Rural Services, DMS Campus, Teynampet, Chennai - 600 006.

54.The Director of Rural Development Department, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai - 600 015.

55.The Commissioner, Revenue Administration, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

56.The Registrar of Co-Operative Societies, Kilpauk, Chennai.

57.The Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Societies, No.273, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai.

58.The Registrar of Co-Operative Societies (Housing), O/o. The Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Housing Federation, Veppery, Chennai.

59.The Director cum Mission Director, Information Child Development Programme, Tharamani, Chennai.

60.The Member Secretary/Chairman, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Recruitment Committee, 8th Down Floor, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai.

61.The Managing Director, Tamilnadu Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., No.12, Thambusamy Road, Kilpauk, Chennai.

62.The Director of Social Welfare Department, Saidapet, Chennai-600 015.

63.The Director of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai.

64.The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai - 15.

65.The Director, Survey and Settlement Department, Chepauk, Chennai -600 005.

66.The Project Officer, Sand Quarry Operation, Chepauk, Chennai -5.

67.The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.

68.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

69.The District Collector, Pudukottai District, Pudukottai.

70.The District Collector, Kanyakumari District At Nagercoil.

71.The District Collector, Tenkasi District, Tenkasi.

72.The District Collector, Sivagangai District, Sivagangai.

73.The District Collector, Thoothukudi District, Thoothukudi.

74.The District Collector, Theni District,Theni.

75.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram District, Ramanathapuram.

76.The District Collector, Thanjavur District, Thanjavur.

77.The District Collector, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli.

78.The District Collector, Trichy District, Trichy.

79.The District Collector, Virudhunagar District, Virudhunagar.

80.The District Collector, Karur District, Karur.

81.The Director of Collegiate Education, 9th Floor, EVK Sampath Buildings, College Road,Chennai.

82.The Director of School Education Department, 6th Floor, Namakkal Kavingar Maligai, Chennai. 83.The Director of Elementary Education, Teynampet, Chennai.

84.The Joint Director of School Education Department, Office of the Director of School Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai.

85.The Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Tamil Valarchi Valagam, Tamizh Salai, Egmore, Chennai.

86.The Special Deputy Collector, Mandapam Camp, Ramanathapuram.

87.The Special Deputy Collector (Stamps), Kokkirakulam, Thirunelveli.

88.The Director of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, Chepauk, Chennai.

89.The Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, DMS Complex, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai.

90.The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, 76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai -32.

91.The Commissioner, Differently Abled Welfare Department, Chennai. 92.The Commissioner, Tamilnadu Food Safety and Drug Administration, No.359, Anna Salai, Chennai.

93.The Director of Survey and Settlement, Chepauk, Chennai-5.

94.The Director of Medical Education, EVR Periyar Salai, Chennai-600010.

95.The Director, Tamilnadu Fire and Rescue Services, Chennai-600 008.

96.The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, DMS Complex, Chennai - 600 006.

97.The Secretary, Selection Committee For MBBS Course, Kilpauk,Chennai.

98.The Secretary, Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education, No.162, Periyar E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai.

99.The Director, Handloom, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi, Chennai.

100.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai.

101.The Member Secretary, Local Planning Authority, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur.

102.The Member Secretary, Local Planning Authority, Corporation Building, III Floor, Madurai.

103.The Registrar, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai.

104.The Member Secretary, Local Planning Authority, West Car Street, Thoothukudi-1.

105.The Dean, Rajaji Hospital, Madurai.

106.The District Elementary Educational Officer, Pudukottai.

107.The Principal Government College of Engineering, Thirunelveli.

108.The Joint Director of Agriculture, Pudukottai District.

109.The Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning, Chinnachokkikulam, Madurai.

110.The Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

111.The Deputy Commissioner, Commercial Tax Department, Tirunelveli Division, Tirunelveli.

112.The State Project Officer, Surva Siksha Abhiyan Project, DPI Campus, Teynampet, Chennai.

113.The Commissioner, Puliyankudi Municipality, Thirunelveli District.

114.The Commissioner, Kadayanallur Municipality, Thirunelveli District.

115.The Commissioner, Thirunelveli City Municipal Corporation, Thirunelveli District.

116.The Commissioner, Devakottai Municipality, Sivagangai District.

117.The Commissioner, Trichy Municipal Corporation, Trichy.

118.The Commissioner, Dindigul Municipal Corporation, Dindigul.

119.The Commissioner, Karur Municipality, Karur.

120.The Commissioner, Thoothukudi Municipal Corporation, Thoothukudi.

121.The Commissioner/Executive Officer, Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District.

122.The Commissioner, Madurai Municipal Corporation.

123.The Commissioner, Melur Municipality, Madurai District.

124.The Commissioner, Thirumangalam Municipality, Thirumangalam, Madurai District.

125.The Commissioner, Pudukottai Municipality, Pudukottai.

126.The Commissioner, Thanjavur Municipal Corporation, Thanajvur District.

127.The Commissioner, Kumbakonam Municipality, Thanajvur District.

128.The Commissioner, Thiruthangal Municipality, Virudhunagar.

129.The Joint Commissioner,, Legal Commercial Tax, Madurai.

130.The Joint Director, Kallar Reclamation, Madurai.

131.The Joint Commissioner of Commercial of Taxes, Virudhunagar Range, Virudhunagar.

132.The District Project Officer, Integrated Child Development, Ramanathapuram.

133.The Assistant Director of Fisheries, Thoothukudi.

134.The Assistant Director of Fisheries Department (Extension and Training), Tirunelveli.

135.The Assistant Commissioner, Land Reforms, Madurai.

136.The Assistant Commissioner (CT-II), Thanjavur Assessment Circle, Sachidananda Moopanar Road, Commercial Tax Building, Thanjavur.

137.The Assistant Commissioner (CT-III), New Commercial Taxes Building, 262A, Beach Road, Thoothukudi.

138.The Commercial Tax Officer (Rural), Office of the Commercial Tax Office, Dindigul.

139.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable

Endowments Department, Suchindrum, Kanyakumari District.

140.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Madurai.

141.The Joint Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Trichy.

142.The District Forest Officer, Kanyakumari.

143.The Deputy Director/Wildlife Warden, Project Tiger, Mukkudal Road, Ambasamudram, Thirunelveli.

144.The Chief Warden, Mundanthuravu Tiger Sanctuary, Pabanasam, Tirunelveli District.

145.The Deputy Director, Project Tiger, Mukkudal Road, Ambasamudram, Thirunelveli.

146.The District Forest Officer cum Chief Conservator of Forests, Thirunelveli Division, Thirunelveli District.

147.The District Forest Officer, Thoothukudi.

148.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation, Karur Road, Mallachipuram, Kambarasampettai, Trichy.

149.The Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Region. No.2, Melur Road, Madurai.

150.The District Revenue Officer, Sivagangai, Sivagangai District.

151.The District Revenue Officer, Dindigul, Dindigul District.

152.The District Revenue Officer, Ramanathapuram, Ramanathapuram District.

153.The District Revenue Officer, Trichy, Trichy District.

154.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Sivagangai.

155.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Thanjavur.

156.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Thirunelveli.

157.The District Project Officer, Angawadi Workers, Madurai District.

158.The District Social Welfare Officer, Dindigul.

159.The District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer, Madurai.

160.The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Technical Education Circle, Chennai.

161.The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resource Organization, Chepauk, Chennai.

162.The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resource Organization, Madurai Region, Madurai.

163.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resource Department, Cauvery Basin, Thanjavur.

164.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resource Department, Periyar Vaigai Basin Division, Madurai.

The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Thallakulam, Madurai.

165.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Slum Clearance Board, Chennai.

166.The Executive Engineer, Tamil Nadu State Slum Clearance Board, Tiruppur.

167.The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Vaippar Basin Circle, Virudhunagar District.

168.The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, Ramanathapuram.

169.The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department (C & M), Thirunelveli.

170.The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department (C & M), Chellandipalayam, Karur.

171.The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department (C & M), Alagar Kovil Road, Madurai.

172.The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, Trichy Division, TVS Tollgate, Trichy.

173.The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, Tamilnadu Road Sector Project, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District.

174.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department (C & M), Thirunelveli.

175.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department (C & M), Madurai.

176.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department (C & M), Trichy.

177.The Superintending Engineer, Highways Department (C & M), Pattukottai, Thanjavur.

178.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department (C & M) (Medical Works), Madurai.

179.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resources Management, Madurai.

180.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department (Construction and Maintenance), Madurai Circle, Madurai.

181.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department (Construction and Maintenance), Cantonment, Trichy.

182.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resources Department, Vaipar Basin Circle, Virudhunagar.

183.The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Resources Department, R.C.Division Cantonment, Trichy.

184.The Superintending Engineer, TWAD, World Bank Project Circle III, Trichy.

185.The Assistant Engineer, Highways Department, Palani, Dindigul District.

186.The Assistant Director, Geology and Mining Department, Kanyakumari.

187.The Senior Regional Manager, TASMAC, Trichy.

188.The Senior Regional Manager, TASMAC, Madurai.

189.The Deputy Director, District Livestock Farm, Ramayanpatti, Tirunelveli.

190.The Assistant Director, Geology and Mining Department, Thoothukudi.

191.The Superintendent of Police, Central Prison, Palayamkottai, Thirunelveli District.

192.The Superintendent of Police, Central Prison, Madurai, Madurai District.

193.The Chief Engineer, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Administrative Branch), 8th Floor, NPKRR, Maaligai, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai -2.

194.The Managing Director, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai Ltd), Bye Pass Road, Madurai.

195.The Managing Director, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation (Chennai Ltd), Pallavan Salai, Chennai.

196.The Administrator, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Fund Trust, Pallavan Salai, Chennai.

197.The General Manager, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation, Virudhunagar.

198.The General Manager, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation Madurai Region, Madurai.

199.The Regional Transport Officer, Madurai North, Madurai.

200.The Managing Director, Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District.

201.The Managing Director, TNSTC, Dindigul Region, Dindigul.

202.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Thirunelveli Ltd., Kattabomman Nagar, Thirunelveli.

203.The Regional Transport Officer, Near District Employment Office, Theni.

204.The Registrar, Tamilnadu Dr.J.Jayalalitha Fisheries University, Vettar River View Campus, Nagapattinam.

205.The Registrar, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai.

206.The Tahsildhar, Theni Taluk, Theni District.

207.The Tahsildhar, Lalkudi Taluk, Trichy District.

208.The Tahsildhar, Srirangam Taluk, Trichy District.

209.The Tahsildhar, Watrap Taluk, Virudhunagar District.

210.The Block Development Officer, Virudhunagar.

211.The Block Development Officer, Munichirai Panchayat Union, Kanyakumari District.

212.The Block Development Officer, Thanajvur.

213.The Block Development Officer, Pudukottai.

214.The Block Development Officer, Thoothukudi.

215.The Block Development Officer, Dindigul.

216.The Block Development Officer, Sivagangai.

217.The Block Development Officer, Ramanathapuram.

218.The Block Development Officer, Trichy.

219.The Block Development Officer, Theni.

220.The Block Development Officer, Karur.

221.The Block Development Officer, Kuruvikulam Panchayat Union, Thiruvenkadam Taluk, Tenkasi.

222.The Executive Officer, Kutralam Town Panchayat, Special Grade, Tiruenlveli District.

223.The Executive Officer, Cheranmahadevi Selection Grade Town Panchayat, Thirunelveli.

.. Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to settle the Fees bills raised by the writ petitioner herein for his appearance as Additional Advocate General before this Court for the periods from 23.05.2011 to July 2016 and 22.12.2017 to 30.04.2021, within a stipulated time fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner :

Mr.VR Shanmuganathan For RR1 to 39, :

Ms.D.Farjana Ghoushia 41 to 45, 49 to 89, 91 to 99, Special Government Pleader 101, 102, 104 to 120, 124, 125, 127 to 199 & 201 to 223 For RR40 & 200 :

Mr.D.Sivaraman Standing Counsel

For RR46 to 48 :

Mr.R.Sivakumar & 100 Government Advocate (Crl. Side) For R90 :

Ms.Vijayakumari Natarajan For R103 :

Mr.J.John Rajadurai Standing Counsel For R121 :

Mr.P.Srinivas For R122 :

Mr.R.Murali Standing Counsel For R123 :

Mr.Gunaseelan Muthaiah For R126 :

Mr.N.Dilipkumar

ORDER

This writ petition has been filed for the issue of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to settle the fee bills raised by the petitioner for his appearance on behalf of the respective parties in his capacity as the Additional Advocate General before the High Court for the period from 23.05.2011 to July 2016 and thereafter from 22.12.2017 to 30.04.2021,

2. When the writ petition came up for admission, on 11.08.2021, this Court passed the following order:

"The petition pertains to the non-payment of bills to a former Additional Advocate General of this Court for the considerable period of time.

Mr.P.Subbaraj, learned counsel for the State accepts notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 39, 41 to 199 and 201 to 223. Mr.D.Sivaraman, learned Standing Counsel accepts notice on behalf of respondents 40 and 200.

Learned counsel for the State is directed to take this matter very seriously and revert on the status of such payments on the next hearing.

Let the matter appear on 25.08.2021."

3. The case was thereafter listed for hearing on 04.02.2022 and this Court passed the following order:

"Heard Mr.V.R.Shanmuganathan, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.D.Ghandiraj, learned Special Government Pleader, who takes notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 39, 41 to 199 and 201 to 223.

2. Let me not enter into a detailed examination of the facts pleaded in the Writ Petition. However, Mr.D.Ghandiraj, learned Special Government Pleader, stated that after the matter was listed on 01.02.2022, he had taken efforts and he stated that the Police Department who are due to pay professional fees to be paid to the petitioner had assured that they would clear the arrears in the month of March / April this year.

3. It is also informed by the learned Special Government Pleader, that he was also able to contact the revenue authorities and the revenue authorities of Ramanathapuram District stated that they would clear the arrears of about Rs.90,000/- within a short period of time. The learned Special Government Pleader also stated that he had been forwarded with actual arrears to be paid to the petitioner department wise and that list had reached to him earlier in the morning today and that he would continue with his efforts to impress upon the various heads of the departments that amounts should be paid to the petitioner for professional fees rendered during the period when the petitioner was an Additional Advocate General of this Court.

4. It is pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioner that there are Government Orders already passed sanctioning the amounts and therefore, those

amounts which have already been sanctioned may be paid.

5. It is hoped that the respondents will make some progress regarding payments of those amounts and report to this Court on 04.03.2022.

6. There are also further amounts for which a decision will have to be taken. Let a copy of this order be forwarded to the Member Secretary, High Court Legal Services Authority, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court to arrange a Special Lok Adalat on 12.03.2022 exclusively for this purpose and also seek assistance of a retired Judge of this Court to head the panel to examine the claim of the petitioner. The Member Secretary, High Court Legal Services Authority, is directed to issue notice to all the respondents, who have to make payments, ensure their presence, so that constructive time can be spent to decide the amounts due and get a commitment about payment of the amounts towards the professional fees to be paid to the petitioner herein.

7. A representation is also made that the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Karaikudi, Sivagangai District, had paid the entire amounts to the petitioner. The said representation by the learned counsel is noted.

8. List the matter once again on 04.03.2022."

4. Pursuant to the above order, the matter was referred to the Lok Adalat.

5. The matter was thereafter posted for hearing on 30.03.2022 and this Court passed the following order:

"It is represented by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that subsequent to the order, dated 04.02.2022 passed by this Court, a Special Lok Adalat was arranged on 12.03.2022 and the direction given by this Court on 04.02.2022 was complied with. However, no settlement could be arrived at on 12.03.2022. But the settlement proceeding is in progress. Therefore, he seeks for constitution of one more Lok Adalat for the very same purpose.

2.This Court, after giving due consideration to the submissions made by the learned Counsel for the petitioner, is inclined to relegate the parties to the Lok Adalat, which is already scheduled to take place on 20.04.2022. All the parties are directed to appear on that date. In case, any of the respondents have already settled the fee bill of the petitioner, they need not appear

during the Lok Adalat on 20.04.2022. The Lok Adalat is directed to submit a report to this Court.

3.Post the matter on 29.04.2022."

6. A report dated 26.04.2022 was submitted by the Officer-incharge/Registrar (Judicial), Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, High Court Legal Services Committee, Madurai, and even in the Lok Adalat, the entire fees, that is, payable to the petitioner was not settled by the respondents. Hence, the matter was referred back to the Court.

7. The case was taken up for hearing on 31.07.2023. On that day, it was submitted that nearly 147 respondents have settled the fees and only the remaining respondents will have to settle the fees that was payable to the petitioner.

8. The case was thereafter taken up for hearing on 06.11.2023 and this Court passed the following order:

"When the matter was taken up for hearing on 31.07.2023, this Court took into consideration the fact that 147 respondents have already settled the fees and

the dispute now confines itself only to the remaining 76 respondents. The matter pertains to the settlement of the fees to the petitioner, who was then the learned Additional Advocate General. Therefore, this Court expects that the matter must be resolved in a smooth manner without forcing this Court to pass any orders.

2. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing on behalf the official respondents sought for some time.

3. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent No.126 submitted that the bill raised by the petitioner will be considered and if there is any clarification, the same will be sought for from the petitioner.

4. Post this Writ Petition under the caption "For Orders" on 27.11.2023."

9. The matter was once again listed for hearing on 27.11.2023 and this Court passed the following order:

"The learned counsel for the petitioner is directed to file a fresh memo giving the details of the respondents from whom the fee is yet to be settled to the petitioner. A copy of the same shall be furnished to the learned Special Government Pleader.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.126 submitted that some more time is required to report compliance before this Court.

3. The learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.103 submitted that totally 26 bills were raised by the petitioner and out of that, 24 bills were settled and only the bill Nos.20 and 26 remains to be settled and that those bills will also be settled and the same will be reported before this Court.

4. Post this case on 12.12.2023 under the same caption."

10. The writ petition was once again listed for hearing on 12.12.2023 and the following order was passed: "When the matter was taken up for hearing today, it was brought to the notice of this Court by the learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.26 that the entire fee has been settled on 06.12.2023. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner shall verify the same and take instructions in this regard. Insofar as the respondent No.103 is concerned, the entire bills have been settled.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner by relying upon the Memo filed on

30.11.2023 submitted that 68 respondents are yet to settle the fee that is due and payable to the petitioner.

3. The learned Special Government Pleader submitted that she has received instructions from some of the respondents and the written instructions in this regard were also placed before this Court.

4. The learned Special Government Pleader shall prepare a Memo and indicate the respondents who have already settled the dues among the respondents pointed out in the Memo filed by the petitioner dated 30.11.2023. If there are any part payments to be made/settlement of the entire fee has to be done, the time limit within which it will be settled, shall be ascertained and mentioned in the Memo.

5. Post this matter under the same caption on 21.12.2023."

11. When the case was taken up for hearing today, the learned Special Government Pleader filed a memo. On going through the same, it is seen that only 15 respondents have settled the full fees and insofar as 7 respondents are concerned, they have partly settled the bills raised by the petitioner.

12. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that from the memo that has been filed by the respondents, it can be ascertained that out of 68 respondents, who had not settled the fees to the petitioner and which was identified during the last hearing, 5 respondents have paid the fees viz., respondents 21, 31, 41, 100 and 126. The learned counsel further submitted that some of the respondents have not even paid any fees and with respect to the other respondents, they have only partly cleared the fees payable to the petitioner. The learned counsel requested this Court to fix an outer limit for the settlement of the entire fees to the petitioner.

13. Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and by taking note of the earlier orders passed by this Court and also the fact that 63 respondents are yet to pay the entire fees/part of the fees, this Court deems it fit to fix an outer limit for the settlement of the bills raised by the petitioner. Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the concerned respondents viz., respondents 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 16, 19, 20, 26, 33, 36, 47, 52, 54, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 77, 78,

79, 82, 91, 93, 94, 97, 98, 101, 102, 109, 118, 125, 135, 142, 143, 144, 146, 149, 151, 153, 155, 159, 162, 164, 167, 175, 176, 179, 182, 184, 185, 190, 193, 205, 213 and 215 to clear the fee bills raised by the petitioner within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. This Court has given a longer time for the settlement of the fees with the fond hope that the entire fees will be settled to the petitioner and that he will not be forced to once again knock the doors of this Court claiming for his fees. The concerned respondents shall abide by the time limit fixed by this Court.

14. This writ petition is disposed of in the above terms. No costs. 21.12.2023 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes ABR To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home Department, Fort St. George,

Secretariat, Chennai.