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S.Murugan, Vs T.Udhayachandran, Ias., and another — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

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S.Murugan, Vs T.Udhayachandran, Ias., and anotherS.Murugan, v. T.Udhayachandran, Ias., and another

Disposed¶48

S.Murugan, v. T.Udhayachandran, Ias., and another

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 – Section 11 – wilful disobedience of writ orders

Madras HC25 Jul 2025CONT P/1782/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court, single judge C.V. Karthikeyan, common order dated 25.07.2025 disposing of Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025 filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 by S. Murugan, T. Jawaharlal Nehru, I. Ravi Kumar Kennedy, E. David Raj, V. Swaminatha Pillai and M. Vijayamma (counsel: E. Martin Jaya Kumar) against Mr. T. Udhayachandran I.A.S. (Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department) and Tmt. E. Sundaravalli I.A.S. (Director of Collegiate Education) (Government Advocate S. Arumugam) for wilful disobedience of orders dated 13.09.2023 in W.P.Nos.37841, 37846, 37844, 37842, 37847, 37843 of 2016; writ appeals 2164, 2130, 2148, 2165, 2160 of 2025 pending before Division Bench and C.M.P. No. 15849 of 2025 for condonation of delay; petitions closed with liberty, no costs; writ appeals next hearing 04.08.2025.

What did the court decide?

Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025 closed with liberty, if occasion arises and depending upon the nature of the order passed in the writ appeals by the Division Bench; no costs.

Why is it important?

Since the Division Bench is now in seisin of the entire issue (the orders alleged to have been disobeyed being under challenge in writ appeals, with a condonation-of-delay petition for the sixth), that circumstance warrants closure of the contempt petitions rather than adjudication on contempt. ¶48

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025 closed with liberty, if occasion arises and depending upon the nature of the order passed in the writ appeals by the Division Bench; no costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the contempt petitions alleging wilful disobedience of the orders dated 13.09.2023 in W.P.Nos.37841, 37846, 37844, 37842, 37847 and 37843 of 2016 should be proceeded with when the Division Bench is already in seisin of the entire issue through the pending writ appeals.

Court's answer

Since the Division Bench is now in seisin of the entire issue (the orders alleged to have been disobeyed being under challenge in writ appeals, with a condonation-of-delay petition for the sixth), that circumstance warrants closure of the contempt petitions rather than adjudication on contempt.

Ratio / Principle

All six contempt petitions are closed with liberty, if occasion arises and depending upon the nature of the order passed in the writ appeals by the Division Bench; no costs awarded.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 — Section 11 — wilful disobedience of writ orders — six contempt petitions (CP Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025, Madras High Court, C.V. Karthikeyan J., 25.07.2025) sought punishment of the Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, and the Director of Collegiate Education for alleged violation of orders dated 13.09.2023 in W.P.Nos.37841, 37846, 37844, 37842, 37847 and 37843 of 2016 — five writ appeals (Nos.2164, 2130, 2148, 2165 and 2160 of 2025) already numbered against those orders and C.M.P. No. 15849 of 2025 filed for condonation of delay in respect of the sixth, with next hearing on 04.08.2025 — Division Bench in seisin of the entire issue — contempt petitions closed with liberty, if occasion arises, depending upon the nature of the order passed in the writ appeals; no costs.

A

Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 25.07.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Mr. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN

Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

Contempt Petition No .1782 of 2025

S.Murugan … Petitioner Vs. 1.Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009. 2.Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S., The Director of Collegiate Education, I.A.S.E., Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015. … Respondents

PRAYER : Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for willful disobedience and violation of the order passed in W.P.No.37841 of 2016 dated 13.09.2023.

Contempt Petition No .1783 of 2025 T.Jawaharlal Nehru … Petitioner Vs. 1.Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

Page 1 of 6

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Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

2.Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S., The Director of Collegiate Education, I.A.S.E., Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015. … Respondents

PRAYER : Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for willful disobedience and violation of the order passed in W.P.No.37846 of 2016 dated 13.09.2023.

Contempt Petition No .1784 of 2025

I.Ravi Kumar Kennedy … Petitioner Vs. 1.Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009. 2.Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S., The Director of Collegiate Education, I.A.S.E., Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015. … Respondents

PRAYER : Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for willful disobedience and violation of the order passed in W.P.No.37844 of 2016 dated 13.09.2023.

Contempt Petition No .1785 of 2025 E.David Raj … Petitioner Vs. 1.Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S.,

Page 2 of 6

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

Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

2.Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S., The Director of Collegiate Education, I.A.S.E., Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015. … Respondents

PRAYER : Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for willful disobedience and violation of the order passed in W.P.No.37842 of 2016 dated 13.09.2023.

Contempt Petition No .1786 of 2025 V.Swaminatha Pillai … Petitioner Vs. 1.Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009. 2.Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S., The Director of Collegiate Education, I.A.S.E., Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015. … Respondents

PRAYER : Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for willful disobedience and violation of the order passed in W.P.No.37847 of 2016 dated 13.09.2023.

Page 3 of 6

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Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

Contempt Petition No .1787 of 2025

M.Vijayamma … Petitioner

Vs.

1.Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

2.Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S., The Director of Collegiate Education, I.A.S.E., Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015. … Respondents

PRAYER : Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for willful disobedience and violation of the order passed in W.P.No.37843 of 2016 dated 13.09.2023.

In all Contempt Petitions

For Petitioner : Mr. E.Martin Jaya Kumar For Respondents : Mr.S.Arumugam Government Advocate

C O M M O N O R D E R

I t is stated that with respect to these six contempt petitions, five

writ appeals have been numbered challenging the orders passed in Writ

Page 4 of 6

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

Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

to 6 th

Appeal Nos.2164, 2130, 2148, 2165 and 2160 of 2025 and with respect

to 6^th writ petition, a petition in C.M.P. No. 15849 of 2025 has been filed to condone the delay in filing the writ appeal and the next hearing date of the writ appeals is on 04.08.2025.

In view of the fact that the Division Bench is now in seisen of the entire issue, these contempt petitions are closed with liberty, if occasion arises and depending upon the nature of the order passed in the writ appeals by the Division Bench. No costs.

25.07.2025

Index :Yes/No Maya

To 1.Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

2.Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S., The Director of Collegiate Education, I.A.S.E., Campus, 577, Anna Salai, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015.

Page 5 of 6

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Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.

Maya

Contempt Petition Nos.1782 to 1787 of 2025

Dated : 25.07.2025

Page 6 of 6

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Issues for consideration

1 issue framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether the contempt petitions alleging wilful disobedience of the orders dated 13.09.2023 in W.P.Nos.37841, 37846, 37844, 37842, 37847 and 37843 of 2016 should be proceeded with when the Division Bench is already in seisin of the entire issue through the pending writ appeals.medium confidence¶48
The court held
Since the Division Bench is now in seisin of the entire issue (the orders alleged to have been disobeyed being under challenge in writ appeals, with a condonation-of-delay petition for the sixth), that circumstance warrants closure of the contempt petitions rather than adjudication on contempt.ratio¶48

Statutes considered

1 provisions across 1 enactments

AI extract

Contempt of Courts Act, 197111¶9

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Orders dated 13.09.2023 in W.P.Nos.37841, 37846, 37844, 37842, 37847 and 37843 of 2016, alleged to have been wilfully disobeyed (each contempt petition cites the corresponding writ petition order: CP 1782/WP 37841; CP 1783/WP 37846; CP 1784/WP 37844; CP 1785/WP 37842; CP 1786/WP 37847; CP 1787/WP 37843).¶9
High Court of Judicature at Madras · 13.09.2023
Prior proceeding
Five writ appeals have been numbered challenging the orders passed in the writ petitions — Appeal Nos.2164, 2130, 2148, 2165 and 2160 of 2025.¶46
Prior proceeding
In respect of the sixth writ petition, C.M.P. No. 15849 of 2025 filed to condone the delay in filing the writ appeal; next hearing date of the writ appeals fixed as 04.08.2025, i.e. the Division Bench is seized of the entire issue.¶47

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
S.Murugan¶8
Mr. E.Martin Jaya Kumar
petitioner
T.Jawaharlal Nehru¶10
Mr. E.Martin Jaya Kumar
petitioner
I.Ravi Kumar Kennedy¶17
Mr. E.Martin Jaya Kumar
petitioner
E.David Raj¶19
Mr. E.Martin Jaya Kumar
petitioner
V.Swaminatha Pillai¶26
Mr. E.Martin Jaya Kumar
petitioner
M.Vijayamma¶32
Mr. E.Martin Jaya Kumar
respondent
Mr.T.Udhayachandran, I.A.S.¶34
Mr.S.Arumugam
respondent
Tmt.E.Sundaravalli, I.A.S.¶35
Mr.S.Arumugam

Coram

AI extract

C.V.KARTHIKEYANauthor¶5

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Madras HC
Decided on: 25 Jul 2025 · July
Registered: 12 Jun 2025
Case no.: CONT P/1782/2025
CNR: HCMA011013762025
Topic: Contempt of Court
Bench: C.v. Karthikeyan
Disposal: CLOSED
Case type: Contempt Petition

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Cite this judgement

S.Murugan, v. T.Udhayachandran, Ias., and another, CONT P/1782/2025 (MAD), decided on 25 July 2025.

The Madras High Court publishes no neutral citation for this judgement — cite it by case number and date of decision.

Statutes1

Contempt of Courts Act, 197111

View all statutes

Procedural history3

Orders dated 13.09.2023 in W.P.Nos.37841, 37846, 37844, 37842, 37847 and 37843 of 2016, alleged to have been wilfully disobeyed (each contempt petition cites the corresponding writ petition order: CP 1782/WP 37841; CP 1783/WP 37846; CP 1784/WP 37844; CP 1785/WP 37842; CP 1786/WP 37847; CP 1787/WP 37843).High Court of Judicature at Madras · 13.09.2023
Five writ appeals have been numbered challenging the orders passed in the writ petitions — Appeal Nos.2164, 2130, 2148, 2165 and 2160 of 2025.
In respect of the sixth writ petition, C.M.P. No. 15849 of 2025 filed to condone the delay in filing the writ appeal; next hearing date of the writ appeals fixed as 04.08.2025, i.e. the Division Bench is seized of the entire issue.

View full history

Bench / Coram

C.V.KARTHIKEYAN

Parties & counsel