J.Jeevitha v. The Chief Engineer/Personnel
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.08.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI J.Jeevitha ... Petitioner vs.
1. The Chief Engineer/personnel, O/o.Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, No.VIII Floor, N.P.K.R.R. Maligai, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
2. The Chief Engineer (Operation and Distribution), O/o.Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Madurai, K.Pudur, Madurai - 625 007.
3. The Superintending Engineer, (Operation and Distribution), O/o.Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Madurai, K.Pudur, Madurai - 625 007.
4. The Executive Engineer (Distribution), O/o.Tamil Nadu Electrcity Board, Usilampatti, Madurai District - 625 532.
... Respondents 1/5
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the second respondent to conclude the departmental proceedings initiated against the petitioner based on the enquiry officer's report dated 25.04.2025 and the petitioner's explanation dated 02.05.2025 by considering the petitioner's representation dated 25.07.2025. For Petitioner : Mr.J.Senthil Kumaraiah For R1 - R4 : Mr.B.Ramanathan Standing Counsel
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed for issuance of a writ of Mandamus, directing the second respondent to conclude the departmental proceedings initiated against the petitioner based on the enquiry officer's report dated 25.04.2025 and the petitioner's explanation dated 02.05.2025, by considering his representation dated 25.07.2025.
2. Heard Mr.J.Senthil Kumaraiah, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr.B.Ramanathan, learned Standing Counsel, who accepts notice on behalf of the respondents.
3. By consent of both parties, the Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2/5
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the impugned proceedings were initiated against her on the ground that he had taken action against a delinquent supervisor who had remitted the collection amount belatedly. Pursuant to this, the second respondent issued a charge memo and enquiry officer was appointed to conduct disciplinary proceedings. The petitioner participated in the enquiry and submitted his explanation, which is stated to be still pending consideration before the second respondent. The grievance of the petitioner is that due to the pendency of the enquiry, her name is likely to be excluded from the panel for promotion to the post of Accounts Supervisor. In this regard, the petitioner sent a representation on 25.07.2025 to the first respondent requesting early conclusion of the departmental proceedings. As no action was taken on this representation, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition before this Court.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner would further submit that the petitioner would be satisfied if a direction is issued to the respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 25.07.2025 and pass appropriate orders thereon, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
6. Considering the above facts and circumstances, without going into the merits of the case, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents, to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 25.07.2025 and in 3/5
the interest of justice and to ensure that the issue is adjudicated fairly and without undue delay, this Court is inclined to permit the enquiry proceedings to be conducted and concluded in a time-bound manner.
7. Accordingly, this Court directs the respondents to proceed with the disciplinary enquiry and complete the same within a period of (*)six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that the enquiry shall be conducted strictly in accordance with law and the petitioner shall be afforded due opportunity to submit his explanation and to participate in the enquiry proceedings. No costs.
Sd/- 24.01.2025 (*)Corrected as per order of this Court dated 14/08/2025 made in WP(MD)No.
21757 of 2025 Sd/- Assistant Registrar ( CS II ) // True Copy // /08/2025 Sub Assistant Registrar (CS- I/ II / III / IV) PKN 4/5
To
1. The Chief Engineer/personnel, O/o.Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, No.VIII Floor, N.P.K.R.R. Maligai, No.144, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
2. The Chief Engineer (Operation and Distribution), O/o.Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Madurai, K.Pudur, Madurai - 625 007.
3. The Superintending Engineer, (Operation and Distribution), O/o.Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Madurai, K.Pudur, Madurai - 625 007.
4. The Executive Engineer (Distribution), O/o.Tamil Nadu Electrcity Board, Usilampatti, Madurai District - 625 532.
+1 CC to M/s.J.SENTHIL KUMARAIAH, Advocate ( SR-50590[F] dated 12/08/2025 +1 CC to M/s.B.RAMANATHAN, Advocate ( SR-51492[F] dated 13/08/2025 ) 11.08.2025 JJ/25.08.2025 5P/ 7C Madurai Bench of Madras High Court is issuing certified copies in this format from 17/07/2023 5/5