Chelladurai v. The Principal Secretary To Government Of Tamil Nadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 13.08.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN and W.M.P.(MD) No. 17200 of 2025
1. Chelladurai,
2. M/s.Kandhan and Co. Partnership Firm, rep. by its Managing Partner L.Rajagopal.
3. M/s.Vijay Infratech, Partnership Firm, rep. by its Managing Director VI.Mathankumar. ... Petitioners Vs
1. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Secretariat, Chennai.
2. The Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai.
3. The District Collector and Chairman, District Rural Development Authority, 1/8
Tirunelveli District.
4. The Project Director, District Rural Development Authority, Thirunelveli District.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to restrain from allotting the work of laying Thermoplastic Road Marking, proving road furnitures and erection of Name Board and Citizen Board for the works covered in strengthening and Black Tropping to the Ambasamudram Sorimuthaiyar Kovil Road KM (0/0-2/040) in Vairavikulam Panchayat in Ambasamudram Panchayat union, Thirunelveli District and for the work covered under strengthening the Black topping to the Ambai Road - JJ Nagar in Palayamkottai Panchayat union, Tirunelveli District under MGSMT 2025-2026 to third parties and for the work covered under Improvement of 6 Rural roads to a length of 14.060 KM in Nanguneri Panchayat Union, Tirunelveli District in package No.02/SASCI 2025-26.
For petitioner : Mr. P.Ganapathi Subramanian For respondents : Mr.D.Ghandiraj Special Government Pleader ***** 2/8
ORDER
This Writ Petition is disposed of at the time of admission with the consent of the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents.
2. In the present Writ Petition, the petitioners have prayed for a Mandamus to direct the respondent not to allow the work of laying Thermoplastic Road Marking, proving road furnitures and erection of Name Board and Citizen Board for the works covered in strengthening and Black Tropping to the Ambasamudram Sorimuthaiyar Kovil Road KM (0/0-2/040) in Vairavikulam Panchayat in Ambasamudram Panchayat union, Thirunelveli District and for the work covered under strengthening the Black topping to the Ambai Road - JJ Nagar in Palayamkottai Panchayat union, Tirunelveli District under MGSMT 2025-2026 to third parties and for the work covered under Improvement of 6 Rural roads to a length of 14.060 KM in Nanguneri Panchayat Union, Tirunelveli District in package No.02/SASCI 2025-26, which were the subject matter of the work order allotted to the respective petitioners pursuant to the E-Tender floated 3/8
by the fourth respondent/Project Director of District Rural Development Authority.
3. According to the petitioners, they have been issued with the following work orders:
S.
No.
Allottee Package No.
Name of the work Date of the work order 1.
M/s.Kandhan & Co./P2 18/MGSMT 2025-26 Strengthening & Black topping to the Ambai Road- JJ Nagar 0/0-0/916 17.06.2025 2.
N.Chelladurai/ P1 01/MGSMT 2025-26 Strengthening & Black topping to the Ambasamudram - Sorimuthaiyanar Koil road Km (0/0-2/040) in Vairavikulam Pt.
09.06.2025 3.
M/s.Vijay Infratech/P3 02/SASCI/2025 -26 Improvement of 6 Rural Roads to a length of 14.060 km in Nanguneri Block of Tirunelveli District.
22.07.2025 4/8
4. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners that although the estimate prepared by the respective petitioners including the following works, the contracts were being given to the third persons: S.No.
Nature of the work Estimate prepared by N.Chelladurai/P1 Estimate prepared by M/s.Kandhan & Co./P2 Estimate prepared by M/s.Vijay Infratech/P3 1.
Thermoplastic Road Marking Rs.3,63,120/- Rs.1,63,048/- Rs.25,02,680/- 2.
Road Furniture Rs. 94,982/- Rs. 31,057/- Rs. 2,65,725/- 3.
Name Board Rs. 21,000/- Rs. 21,000/- Rs. 1,26,000/- Total Rs.4,79,102/- RS.2,15,105/- Rs.28,98,405/-
5. In this connection, not only the petitioners but also the association of which the respective petitioners are the members, namely, Tirunelveli District Uraga Valarchi Mugamai Opandhakararkal Sangam has given a representation, dated 11.07.2025 to the respondents.
6. It is submitted that though representations have been given, they have not evaded any response from the concerned respondents. 5/8
7. The learned Special Government Pleader for the respondents, on the other hand, submits that the work that has been allotted to the respective petitioners is confined to the works stipulated in the respective work orders and therefore, there is no merit in the submission of the respective petitioners.
8. Prima facie, estimates that have been submitted by the respective petitioners pursuant to which the work orders were issued indicate that some of the works in respect of the petitioners made complete are the works that form part of the work orders pursuant to the estimates given by the fourth respondents.
9. Considering the same, there shall be a direction to the third respondent/District Collector and Chairman District, District Rural Development Authority to consider the aforesaid representation of the petitioner and the petitioner's association and dispose of the same on merits within a period of four
(4) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 6/8
10. This Writ Petition is disposed of, with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. Index : Yes / No 13.08.2025 Internet : Yes / No (2/2) apd Note:
Registry is directed to upload a certificated copy of this order subject to the petitioners depositing the deficit Court fee. To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Secretariat, Chennai.
2. The Commissioner, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai.
3. The District Collector and Chairman, District Rural Development Authority, Tirunelveli District.
4. The Project Director, District Rural Development Authority, Thirunelveli District.
7/8
C.SARAVANAN, J.
apd 13.08.2025 (2/2) 8/8