The Lawyers Association Of v. Tr. S.Swaminathan,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 26.08.2020 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN Contempt Petition(MD) No.1733 of 2018 in W.P(MD) No.12969 of 2017 The Lawyers Association of Madurai District Court Represented by its President A.P.Aathithan :Petitioner/Petitioner Vs Tr.S.Swaminathan The State of Tamil Nadu Represented by its Secretary Home (Courts III) Department Secretariat Fort St.George Chennai :Contemnor/1st Respondent PRAYER: Contempt petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, praying to punish the respondent herein for his wilful disobedience of the order passed by this Court in W.P(MD).No.12969 of 2017 dated 21.09.2017.

Prayer in WP(MD). 12969 of 2017 :

Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court To issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to exempt the petitioner association from paying electricity consumption charges and to provide free electricity to the bar association by considering the petitioners representation dated 02.02.2017 in light of the decision of the High Court of Madyapradesh in Vinodkumar Bharatwaj Vs State of M.P. AIR 2013 MP 145.

For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mohan Gandhi For Respondent : Mrs.S.Srimathy Special Government Pleader 1/3

O R D E R

The petitioner herein filed W.P(MD).No.12969 of 2017 and the same was disposed of by an order dated 21.09.2017 in the following direction;

"10.Since the Government of Tamil Nadu had already issued G.O.Ms.No.1725, Home (Courts III) Department dated 23.07.1981, in favour of the Madras Bar Association, granting exemption with certain conditions that exemption will be withdrawn as and when the Association occupies any separate buildings of its own or any private buildings and maintain it, the first respondent shall consider the representation of the petitioner association dated 02.02.2017 on merits within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order"

Alleging that the above said direction has not been complied with, this contempt petition came to be filed. 2.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondent submits that vide letter in D.No.961, dated 21.08.2020 has rejected the petitioner's request. The learned Special Government Pleader would further submit that a copy of the said communication has also been dispatched to the Secretary of the petitioner's association. It is for the petitioner association to question the same in the manner known to law.

3.Since the direction of this Court has been complied with, nothing survives for further adjudication. Therefore, this Contempt Petition is closed.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar (AS) // True Copy // / /2020 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) msa Note: In view of the present lock down owing to COVID-19 pandemic, a web copy of the order may be utilized for official purposes, but, ensuring that the copy of the order that is presented is the correct copy, shall be the responsibility of the advocate/litigant concerned.

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To Tr.S.Swaminathan The State of Tamil Nadu Represented by its Secretary Home (Courts III) Department Secretariat Fort St.George Chennai.

Contempt Petition(MD) No.1733 of 2018 in W.P(MD) No.12969 of 2017 26.08.2020 VB (02.09.2020) 3P 2C 3/3