S. Dhanalakshmi v. The Additional Chief Secretary Cum
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED:17.12.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI WP(MD)No.28072 of 2024 and W.M.P(MD).Nos.23839 and 23840 of 2024 S.Dhanalakshmi ... Petitioner Vs.
1.The Additional Chief Secretary/ Commissioner of Revenue Administration, O/o., Revenue Administration and Disaster Management, Chepak, Chennai -5.
2.The Director, Directorate of Aadhi Dravidar Welfare, Chennai-5.
3.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram, Ramanathapuram District.
... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus seeking to call for the records related to the impugned charge memo dated 18.10.2024 in Ku.Ku.No.Pani-2(4)/22438/2020 issued by 1st respondent under Section 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to consider the petitioner for promotion to the next higher post of the District Revenue Officer by including
her name in the panel of approved candidates for promotion to the post of District Revenue Officer.
For Petitioner : Mr.N.Dilipkumar For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkateshkumar Special Government Pleader
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed to quash the impugned charge memo dated 18.10.2024 in Ku.Ku.No.Pani-2(4)/22438/2020 issued by 1st respondent under Section 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules and for a consequential direction to the respondents to consider the petitioner for promotion to the next higher post of the District Revenue Officer by including her name in the panel of approved candidates for promotion to the post of District Revenue Officer.
2. The petitioner is working as a Deputy Collector. At the time when the petitioner was due to be considered for promotion to the post of District Revenue Officer, the impugned charge memo was issued. It is the contention of the petitioner that in order to circumvent her promotion, the said charge memo came to be issued only in the year 2024 for the alleged incident said to have taken place in the year 2019.
3. Though the petitioner has raised several grounds, the same can be appreciated only during the course of enquiry. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has repeatedly held that at the stage of a charge memo, the Court is not required to interfere, unless the charge memo is issued without any authority, with mala fide intention or if the charges are vague. None of these grounds are attracted in respect of the charge memo impugned in this writ petition. Therefore, this Court dismiss this Writ Petition with a liberty to the petitioner to raise all the grounds during the enquiry. The enquiry shall be conducted in a fair and appropriate manner and the same shall be concluded within a period of 6 months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. Consequently, connected Writ Petitions are closed.
17.12.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index :Yes/No Rmk
To 1.The Additional Chief Secretary/ Commissioner of Revenue Administration, O/o., Revenue Administration and Disaster Management, Chepak, Chennai -5.
2.The Director, Directorate of Aadhi Dravidar Welfare, Chennai-5.
3.The District Collector, Ramanathapuram, Ramanathapuram District.
B.PUGALENDHI,J.
Rmk WP(MD)No.28072 of 2024 17.12.2025