S.Chithra v. A. Balumuthu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 12.03.2025

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI Cont.P (MD) No.1957 of 2024 in W.P.(MD).No.5666 of 2024 S.Chithra ... Petitioner/Petitioner Vs.

A.Balumuthu The Chief Educational Officer, Chief Educational Office, Sivagangai District.

... Contemnor / respondent PRAYER: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Court Act, to punish the respondent for his wilful and deliberate disobedience of the order of this Court in WP.(MD).No.5666 of 2024 dated 11.03.2024. For Petitioner : Mr.K.Sivabalan For Respondent : Mr.T.Amjadkhan Government Advocate 1/4

O R D E R

When the matter came up for hearing, the learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the specific direction of this Court was to take necessary steps for the restoration of the service register to the petitioner within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order, and the date of the order was 11.03.2024. The respondent / contemnor agreed before this Court that he had received the copy of the order within four weeks from the date of the order, which was precisely in the month of April 2024. Even after a lapse of almost 11 months, the respondent / contemnor, who is present before this Court in a lethargic way submitted that the service register of the petitioner has vanished, which warrants severe action under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

2. This Court carefully considering the plight of the petitioner that his service register has gone missing, had passed a specific direction to restore the same. The service register every Government servant is like the heartbeat of the government servant. The employers, who are the custodians of the service register of government employees, have a statutory 2/4

duty to keep the same in safe custody. Having not done so and having the mentality to submit before this Court that the service register had vanished, stringent action is necessary in this case. The respondent / contemnor is directed to appear before this Court on 19.03.2025 to answer the question of punishment.

3. Accordingly, this Contempt Petition is allowed. 12.03.2025 NCC : Yes/No Internet:Yes/No Index:Yes/No jbr NOTE: Issue order copy on 12.03.2025 To A.Balumuthu The Chief Educational Officer, Chief Educational Office, Sivagangai District.

3/4

L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.

jbr Cont.P (MD) No.1957 of 2024 in W.P.(MD).No.5666 of 2024 12.03.2025 4/4