M.R.Eswaran v. The Secretary To The Govt.,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 09.11.2016 CORAM :

THE HON'BLE Dr.JUSTICE S.VIMALA W.P(MD)No.21101 of 2016 M.R.Eswaran ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Secretary to the Government, Information and Public Relations Department, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai.

2.The Director, Information and Public Relations, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai.

3.The Information and Public Relation Officer, Office of the District Information and Public Relation, Collectorate, Tirunelveli.

... Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 2nd Respondent to consider and dispose of the petitioners representation dated 25.10.2016 by directing the 3rd Respondent to handover the Digital Camera and Photography equipments as and when required for recording Government functions in Tirunelveil District within a stipulated period as fixed by this court. For Petitioner : Mr.S.M.Anantha Murugan For Respondents : Mr.V.R.Shanmuganathan Special Government Pleader

O R D E R

This Writ of Mandamus has been filed, seeking a direction to the third respondent to handover the digital camera and photography equipments as and when required for recording Government functions in Tirunelveil District.

2.The petitioner herein is an Assistant Photographer, employed under the second respondent Department and he is presently working in Tirunelveli District under the control of the third respondent. The Government functions are conducted at Tirunelveli District every now and then. Wherever and whenever the functions are held, it is the duty of the petitioner to record the same and the third respondent has to give permission for taking the equipments which are in his custody. After completing the function, every time, the petitioner used to return the equipments to the custody of the third respondent. For the reasons best known, the third respondent did not give permission for the petitioner to take out those equipments.

3.Claiming permission, the petitioner has submitted the representations dated 30.08.2016, 20.09.2016 and 25.10.2016. As the second respondent did not take any action in this regard, this Writ petition has been filed.

4.No acceptable explanation is forthcoming on the side of the respondents as to why permission was not granted to the petitioner to take out the photography equipments for the purpose of recording the Government functions.

5.Under such circumstances, the second respondent is directed to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 25.10.2016 and to pass orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6.The Writ petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (Crl.) /True copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar To 1.The Secretary to the Government, Information and Public Relations Department, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai.

2.The Director, Information and Public Relations, Secretariat, St.George Fort, Chennai.

3.The Information and Public Relation Officer, Office of the District Information and Public Relation, Collectorate, Tirunelveli.

+1 CC to Mr.S.M.ANANTHA MURUGAN, Advocate, SR No.67172 +1 CC to THE SPECIAL GOVERNMENT PLEADER, SR No.67473 W.P(MD)No.21101 of 2016 09.11.2016 mj SH/SKS-RR:22.11.2016:3P/6C