Lnp Girls Higher Secondary School v. P.Murugesan

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 12.09.2025 CORAM :

THE HON`BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI LNP Girls Higher Secondary School, Represented by its Secretary, Mr.Gurucharan, Lalgudi, Trichy District.

... Petitioner Vs.

P.Murugesan, District Educational Officer, Lalgudi, Tiruchirappalli District.

... Respondent Prayer : Contempt Petition has been filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to punish the Contemnor / 2nd Respondent for wilful disobedience of the interim order passed by this Court in WMP.(MD)No.9366 of 2023 in WP.(MD)No.10548 of 2023 dated 17.08.2023 according to law.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.N.Ramanathan For Respondent : Mr.Amjad Khan, Government Advocate 1/6

ORDER

The petitioner/School has filed this contempt petition that the respondent herein has violated the interim order passed by this Court in WMP.(MD)No.9366 of 2023 in WP.(MD)No.10548 of 2023 dated 17.08.2023.

2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the officials have passed an order dated 11.10.2022 under Rule 19(3) of the Tamil Nadu Private School Regulations Rules by bringing the petitioner/School into direct payment. This order dated 11.10.2022 has been challenged by the petitioner in WP.(MD)No.10548 of 2023 before this Court. This Court has granted an interim order of stay in favour of the petitioner by an order dated 28.04.2023 and the same has also been extended by an order dated 17.08.2023. However, the respondents in order to defeat the writ petition filed by the petitioner, has passed another order dated 24.06.2025 bringing the petitioner/School into direct payment. The said order dated 24.06.2025 has also been challenged before this Court in WP.(MD)No.17912 of 2025 and the same was 2/6

disposed of by an order dated 02.07.2025 by condemning the conduct of the respondent in issuing another order of direct payment when the earlier order dated 11.10.2022 is in existence. The learned counsel has also pointed out the attitude of the respondent in issuing another order for direct payment when the earlier order dated 11.10.2022 was stayed by this Court.

3.It is seen from the records that the respondents have, in fact, issued an order under Rule 19(3) to bring the petitioner School under direct payment. The said order dated 11.10.2022 has been challenged by the petitioner in WP.(MD)No.10548 of 2023 and this Court granted an order of interim stay by an order dated 28.04.2023 and the same has been extended for a period of four weeks by an order dated 17.08.2023. Thereafter, the petitioner has not taken any steps to have the interim order extended. In the meantime, the respondent herein has issued another order of direct payment dated 24.06.2025, which was also challenged by the petitioner before this Court and it has also been set aside by an order dated 02.07.2025. No doubt the conduct of the respondent in issuing second order of direct payment is not in proper, however, the same has been set aside by this Court. The petitioner ought 3/6

to have workout his remedy by conducting the pending writ petition. They cannot make out contempt petition, based on the interim order, which has not been extended subsequently. Accordingly, this contempt petition is closed.

12.09.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes gns 4/6

To P.Murugesan, District Educational Officer, Lalgudi, Tiruchirappalli District.

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B.PUGALENDHI,J gns 12.09.2025 6/6