The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed a writ petition filed under Article 226 challenging alleged misappropriation by TNPL officials. The petitioner, a dismissed association president who failed to appear, could not overcome preliminary objections regarding maintainability.
No relief granted; petition dismissed for non-appearance.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 27.08.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI
WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
N.Pitchandi, President, TNPL Staff Association, No.28, Bharathiar Street, Moohambikai Flats, No.F-5, Block No.2, Palavanthangal,Chennai. ... Petitioner
Vs
1.The Principal Secretary to the Government, Finance Department, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009. 2.The Chairman cum Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd, 67, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai – 32.
3.The General Manager (HR), Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd, Kagithapuram, Karur, Tamil Nadu. ...Respondents
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WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to take suitable and appropriate action against the respondents 2 & 3 for their illegal acts committed in misappropriating the funds of the TNPL Company in payment of Bonus to its A and B class employees more fully by suppressing all the materials factors.
For Petitioner : No appearance For R1 : Mr.G.V.Vairam Santhosh, Additional Government Pleader For R2 & R3 : Mr.M.P.Senthil
O R D E R
This writ petition was filed by one N.Pitchandi, in the
capacity of the President of Staff Association of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited, Karur, for a Mandamus, directing the first respondent to take appropriate action as against the respondents 2 & 3 that they have misappropriated the funds of the TNPL.
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WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
2.Though this writ petition was filed in the year 2016, it is not admitted so far. When this writ petition was listed on 01.11.2016, a request was made on behalf of the petitioner and therefore, it was adjourned by two weeks, by order dated 01.11.2016. Thereafter, this writ petition was listed on 13.07.2023 and on that day, there was no representation for the petitioner. Therefore, it was adjourned to 27.07.2023 and on that day also, there was no representation for the petitioner. Hence, the Registry was directed to list the matter on 10.08.2023 under the caption ''for dismissal.'' On 10.08.2023, at request of the petitioner's counsel, the matter was once again adjourned to 24.08.2023. The case was repeatedly adjourned for several times at the instance of the petitioner's counsel till 14.08.2024.
3.On 14.08.2024, the learned counsel appearing for the
respondents 2 & 3 has raised preliminary objection for entertaining this writ petition on the ground that this writ petition was filed by a dismissed employee/the petitioner herein, in the capacity as
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WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
President of TNPL Staff Association, in the month of November 2016, when he was dismissed from service on 30.05.2016 itself. It was also reported that the petitioner is no longer a staff of the Tamil Nadu Newsprint Papers Limited as on date and therefore, he cannot maintain this writ petition as a President of TNPL Staff Association. Considering that there was no representation for the petitioner on that day, this writ petition was directed to be listed on 22.08.2024, under the caption ''for orders''. On 22.08.2024, an adjournment was sought for by the learned counsel for the petitioner and therefore, this Court directed the petitioner's counsel to meet out the preliminary objections raised by the learned counsel for the respondents 2 & 3 and adjourned the matter to 27.08.2024, under the caption ''for orders''. Even today(27.08.2024), there is no representation for the petitioner.
4.Considering that there is no representation for the petitioner even after providing sufficient opportunities, considering the preliminary objections raised by the learned counsel for the
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WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
respondents 2 & 3 that the petitioner was dismissed from service in the month of May 2016 itself and the fact that the petitioner is no longer in service in Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited, Karur, this writ petition is dismissed. No costs.
27.08.2024
NCC :Yes/No Index :Yes/No Internet : Yes/No vrn To
1.The Principal Secretary to the Government, Finance Department, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.
2.The Chairman cum Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd, 67, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai – 32.
3.The General Manager (HR), Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd, Kagithapuram, Karur.
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WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
B.PUGALENDHI,J.
vrn
Order made in WP(MD)No.20790 of 2016
27.08.2024
1 issue framed by the court
Whether a writ petition filed by a dismissed employee is maintainable when the petitioner fails to appear and address preliminary objections regarding lгoss of standing.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
N.Pitchandi
The Principal Secretary to the Government, Finance Department
The Chairman cum Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd
The General Manager (HR), Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd
B.Pugalendhi
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
