Allowed

Kamaraj .P v. The Regional Joint Registrar of Co-Operative Societies/

Madras HC14 Nov 2024WP(MD)/22296/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

A writ petition challenged a suspension order and a charge memo issued by co-operative society officials. The court found the charge memo was issued mala fide with content verbatim to a previously quashed memo and set it aside, allowing the petition and closing connected petitions.

What did the court decide?

The impugned charge memo dated 07.09.2021 was set aside; the writ petition was allowed and connected miscellaneous petitions were closed.

Kamaraj .P Vs The Regional Joint Registrar of… — Service and Employment | Madras HC (2024)

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 14.11.2024

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022 and WMP(MD)No.16486 and 16487 of 2022

P.Kamaraj

... Petitioner

1.The Regional Joint Registrar of Co-Operative Societies / Common Cadre Service,

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Dindigul District, Dindigul.

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2.The President, D.P.Preiakottai Primari Agricultural, Co-Operative Credit Society Periyakottai, Ottanchathiram Taluk, Dindigul District.

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3.The President, DD – 523, Chinnakalyamputhur Primary Agricultural Co-Operative Credit Society, Chinnakalayamputhur, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District. ... Respondents

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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PRAYER: Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the 1^st respondent in his proceedings in Na.Ka.No. 2327/2019/VeSeS(Po.Pa.Ni) dated 07.09.2021 and quash the same as devoid of merits and consequently direct the respondents to retain the petitioner as Secretary in the 3^rd respondent society and pay the arrears of salary.

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For Petitioner : Mr.Ananth C.Rajesh

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For Respondents : Mr.K.Balasubramani

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Special Government Pleader

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ORDER

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The petitioner / the Secretary of the 2^nd respondent Primary

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Agricultural Co-Operative Society, Dindigul has filed this writ petition as against the order of suspension dated 07.09.2021.

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2.When this writ petition is taken up for hearing, the learned Special

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Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner was placed under suspension, pending enquiry, now they have completed the enquiry under Section 82 of the Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Societies Act, 1987 and they have issued a charge memo for the

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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delinquencies committed by the petitioner by initiating departmental proceedings. Therefore, the writ petition can be disposed of with a direction to the respondents to complete the departmental proceedings within a reasonable time.

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3.The learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that this impugned charge memo dated 07.09.2021 has been issued with mala fide . The petitioner has earlier filed a writ petition as against the order cancelling his transfer order and therefore, he was placed under suspension. According to the learned Counsel for the petitioner, this petitioner was initially serving in the 2^nd respondent society as a Secretary. By order dated 10.05.2021 he was transferred to the 3^rd respondent society. The petitioner has also joined in the 3^rd respondent society on 13.05.2021. While so, without any reason the 1^st respondent by order dated 18.05.2021 cancelled the transfer order dated 10.05.2021. Since this petitioner has already joined in the 3^rd respondent society on 13.05.2021, this petitioner has challenged the order dated 18.05.2021 before this Court in WP(MD)No.9536 of 2021. This Court has also entertained the writ petition and granted an order of interim stay on 26.05.2021. Since the petitioner has filed the writ petition as against the order of the 1^st respondent, he was placed under suspension on

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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31.05.2021, pursuant to the direction of the 1^st respondent. This order of suspension was also challenged by the petitioner in WP(MD)No.10071 of 2021. This Court has entertained this writ petition also and granted an order of interim stay on 14.06.2021. While so he was advised on behalf of the 1^st respondent to withdraw the writ petitions filed by him and they would recall the orders dated 18.05.2021 and 31.05.2021. Therefore the learned counsel claims that the petitioner has circulated a letter for withdrawal of those two writ petitions filed by him in WP(MD)Nos.9536 of 2021 and 1007 of 2021. After recalling the earlier suspension order dated 31.05.2021, the petitioner has been slapped with the present impugned suspension order dated 17.09.2021 levelling allegations of irregularities in the affairs of the 2^nd respondent society. Therefore, the present charge memo is of mala fide and vindictive in nature.

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The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that the suspension order has been issued pending enquiry and now the enquiry is completed, charge memo is issued as against the petitioner and therefore, there is no reason to interfere with the suspension order. He further submits that if this Court directs, they would complete the enquiry within a stipulated time.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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5.This Court considered the rival submissions and perused the materials placed on record.

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6.Admittedly the petitioner was issued with the suspension order on 31.05.2021 for some irregularities committed while he was serving in the 2^nd respondent society. This order of suspension dated 31.05.2021 was issued based on the communication of the Deputy Registrar dated 28.05.2021 to the 1^st respondent. The 1^st respondent cancelled the order of transfer of this petitioner dated 10.05.2021, on 18.05.2021 within eight days that too after the petitioner joined in the 3^rd respondent society on 13.05.2021. The petitioner has challenged the order dated 18.05.2021 cancelling the transfer order before this Court in WP(MD)No.9536 of 2021, this Court has also entertained the writ petition and granted an interim order.

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7.The case of the petitioner is that since the petitioner has filed the writ petition before this Court in WP(MD)No.9536 of 2021, as against the order of the 1^st respondent, on the direction of 1^st respondent, the petitioner was placed under suspension by the order dated 31.05.2021. This order order dated 31.05.2021 was also stayed by this Court in WP(MD)No.31.05.2021. Though the petitioner has obtained interim orders

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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in both writ petitions, the writ petitions were withdrawn by him by circulating a letter dated 21.07.2021 that the matter has been amicably settled. Consequently the orders dated 18.05.2021 and 31.05.2021 appear to have been withdrawn by the respondents. Thereafter this impugned charge memo dated 07.09.2021 was issued as against the petitioner. The contents in the charge memo dated 31.05.2021 and the the contents in the charge memo dated 07.09.2021 are verbatim same. This impugned charge memo dated 07.09.2021 was issued without any reference to the earlier charge memo dated 31.05.2021. However the earlier charge memo dated 31.05.2021 was issued by referring to the communication of the Deputy Registrar. Therefore, this Court is of the opinion that the impugned charge memo has been issued with mala fide and is liable to be set aside.

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8.Accordingly the impugned charge memo is set aside. The writ petition is allowed. No costs. Consequently connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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14.11.2024

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Internet : Yes / No Index : Yes / No

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DSK

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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1.The Regional Joint Registrar of Co-Operative Societies / Common Cadre Service,

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Dindigul District, Dindigul.

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2.The President,

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D.P.Preiakottai Primari Agricultural, Co-Operative Credit Society

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Periyakottai, Ottanchathiram Taluk, Dindigul District.

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3.The President,

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DD – 523, Chinnakalyamputhur Primary Agricultural Co-Operative Credit Society,

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Chinnakalayamputhur, Palani Taluk, Dindigul District.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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B.PUGALENDHI.J.,

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DSK

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WP(MD)No.22296 of 2022

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14.11.2024

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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Kamaraj .P v. The Regional Joint Registrar of Co-Operative Societies/

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Kamaraj .P v. The Regional Joint Registrar of Co-Operative Societies/

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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