M.Ramasubbu v. The Commissioner

1 W.A.(MD)NO.1053 OF 2020 BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 18.08.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR W.A.(MD)No.1053 of 2020 M.Ramasubbu ... Appellant / Petitioner Vs.

1. The Commissioner, Treasuries and Accounts Department, Saidapet, Chennai - 15.

2. The Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 09.

... Respondents/Respondents Prayer: Writ appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent, to set aside the order passed by this Court vide order dated 03.08.2020 in W.P.(MD)No.2177 of 2014.

For Appellant : Mr.R.Saravanan For Respondents : Mr.S.Saji Bino, Special Government Pleader.

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J U D G M E N T

Heard both sides.

2. The appellant herein is the writ petitioner. He was appointed as Junior Assistant in Agricultural Department in the year 1960. He was promoted as Assistant in the year 1969. He became Superintendent in the year 1987. Vacancies arose in the post of Assistant Accounts Officer in the Tamil Nadu State Treasuries and Accounts Service in the year 1994. He applied for the same and he was appointed to the said post vide order dated 13.03.1995.

3. The writ petitioner retired from service on 31.07.1998.

4. Earlier the appellant herein filed W.P.No.8533 of 1986 seeking re-fixation of his seniority in the post of Superintendent. According to him, he must have been promoted as Superintendent with effect from 1994. The writ petition was transferred to Tamil Nadu Administrative Tribunal and renumbered as T.A.No.452 of 1992. TA was allowed vide order dated 28.01.1994. 2/6

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5. The case of the appellant is that this retrospective revision of his seniority in the parent Department should have a favourable impact on his position and seniority in the Treasuries Department. His request was rejected by the first respondent vide order dated 03.05.2000. Questioning the same, the appellant filed W.P.(MD) No.2177 of 2014. The learned single Judge vide order dated 03.08.2020 dismissed the writ petition. Aggrieved by the same, this writ appeal has been filed.

6. The learned counsel appearing for the appellant reiterated all the contentions set out in the grounds of appeal and called upon this Court to set aside the order of the learned single Judge and allow the writ appeal as prayed for.

7. Per contra, the learned counsel for the writ petitioner submitted that the impugned order of the learned single Judge does not call for any interference.

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8. We carefully considered the rival contentions and went through the materials on record.

9. We are of the view that the writ petition filed by the appellant ought to have been dismissed on a short ground. Admittedly, the order impugned in the writ petition was passed on 03.05.2000. The challenge was mounted after a gap of 14 years. The writ petition was hopelessly hit by laches. That apart, the learned single Judge had rightly held that the revision of the appellant's seniority in the parent department will not have any impact in preparing panel for the post of Assistant Accounts Officer in the Treasuries Department.

10. This reason assigned by the learned single Judge is sound. Interference with the said order is not warranted. This writ appeal stands dismissed. No costs.

(G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) & (K.RAJASEKAR, J.) 18th August 2025 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No PMU 4/6

5 W.A.(MD)NO.1053 OF 2020 To:

1. The Commissioner, Treasuries and Accounts Department, Saidapet, Chennai - 15.

2. The Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Fort St. George, Chennai - 09.

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6 W.A.(MD)NO.1053 OF 2020 G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

AND K.RAJASEKAR, J.

PMU W.A.(MD)No.1053 of 2020 18.08.2025 6/6