← Library
Madras High CourtWP(MD)/36231/2025dismissed

S.S.Jegatheeswaran v. The Director General

2025-12-18Honourable Mr Justice B.Pugalendhi5 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 18.12.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI WP(MD)No.36231 of 2025 S.S.Jegatheeswaran ... Petitioner versus The Director General, Highways Department, Guindy, Chennai - 600 025.

... Respondent Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent, i.e. the Director General, Highways Department, Chennai, to pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's representation dated 23.04.2025 within a specific time frame that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Visvalingam For Respondent : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, Special Government Pleader 1/5

ORDER

The petitioner is working as a Superintendent in the office of the Assistant Divisional Engineer (Highways), Construction and Maintenance, Mudukulathur Sub Division, Ramanathapuram District. He has filed this writ petition seeking a direction to the respondent to pass appropriate orders on his representation dated 23.04.2025 within a stipulated time.

2. The petitioner, while working as Assistant, was imposed with a punishment of stoppage of increment for three months without cumulative effect. Thereafter, he was promoted as Superintendent on 09.09.2021. According to the petitioner, his juniors were promoted as Superintendent on 18.09.2019.

3. It is the grievance of the petitioner that the currency of punishment period was over on 30.06.2019 and his juniors were promoted as Superintendent on 18.09.2019. However, he has been promoted as Superintendent on 09.09.2021. Therefore, he submitted a 2/5

representation dated 23.04.2025 to the respondent, requesting to revise his seniority on par with his juniors who were promoted as Superintendent on 18.09.2019. However, no order has been passed on the petitioner's representation. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed.

4. Admittedly, the petitioner has suffered a punishment of stoppage of increment for a period of three months without cumulative effect and the order of punishment was issued on 12.11.2018. The petitioner himself claims that his juniors were promoted as Superintendent on 18.09.2019, however, he has been promoted as Superintendent only on 09.09.2021. It appears that the petitioner has been promoted after the completion of the currency of punishment period.

5. When the petitioner has suffered a punishment in the year 2018 and the currency of punishment period operates while preparing the promotion panel list, he cannot claim it as a matter of right that he has to be promoted on par with his juniors, who were promoted in the year 2019. Therefore, the petitioner is not entitled for the relief of seniority at par with his junior, in view of Rule 22 of the Tamil Nadu Services 3/5

(Discipline and Appeal) Rules 2022.

6. In view of the above, this Court is not inclined to grant any relief as sought for in this writ petition. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs.

18.12.2025 ogy Index : Yes / No.

Internet: Yes / No.

NCC : Yes / No.

To The Director General, Highways Department, Guindy, Chennai - 600 025.

4/5

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

ogy WP(MD) No.36231 of 2025 18.12.2025 5/5