T. Jose v. Supriya Sahu, I.A.S.

Madras HC10 Oct 2025CONT P/2750/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court contempt petitions closed: Cont.P.Nos.2750 to 2755 of 2024 (decided 10.10.2025); Section 11, Contempt of Courts Act; alleged wilful disobedience of order dated 01.08.2023 in W.A.Nos.62, 73, 59, 66, 65 and 68 of 2023; respondents Supriya Sahu, I.A.S. and Dr.Selvavinayagam; compliance reported in all respects; direction on tax deduction refused — no expansion of scope in contempt proceedings; petitioners to approach Authorities in the manner known to law; no punishment imposed; petitions closed.

What did the court decide?

No punishment imposed and no further direction issued; the contempt petitions were closed with the observation that any surviving grievance (including regarding deduction of tax) may be pursued before the Authorities in the manner known to law. ¶¶29

T. Jose Vs Supriya Sahu, I.A.S. — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents committed wilful disobedience of the order dated 01.08.2023 in W.A.Nos.62, 73, 59, 66, 65 and 68 of 2023 so as to warrant punishment in these contempt petitions. +1 more

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Court's answer

On the submission of learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Special Counsel for the respondents that the order dated 01.08.2023 has been complied with in all respects, the contempt petitions were closed without imposing punishment or issuing any further direction.

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Ratio / Principle

The Court refused to issue any further direction on deduction of tax, holding that the scope of a contempt petition cannot be expanded for that purpose.

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Key takeaways

If any grievance survives, the petitioners must approach the concerned Authorities in the manner known to law, rather than seek relief through the contempt jurisdiction.ratio¶¶28

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Six contempt petitions (Cont.P.Nos.2750 to 2755 of 2024) under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, filed against the Secretary to Government, Department of Public Health & Family Welfare (Supriya Sahu, I.A.S.) and the Director of Public Health & Preventive Medicine (Dr.Selvavinayagam), sought punishment for wilful disobedience of the Division Bench order dated 01.08.2023 in W.A.Nos.62, 73, 59, 66, 65 and 68 of 2023. Counsel for the petitioners and the Special Counsel for the respondents submitted that the order had been complied with in all respects. Refusing the additional prayer for a direction on deduction of tax, the Court held that the scope of a contempt petition cannot be expanded and that any grievance must be raised before the Authorities in the manner known to law. The petitions were accordingly closed (S.M.Subramaniam and Mohammed Shaffiq, JJ.).

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Cont.P.Nos.2750 to 2755 of 2024

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 10.10.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ

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Cont.P.Nos.2750 to 2755 of 2024

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T.Jose ...Petitioner in Cont.P.No.2750/2024 J.N.Shajin ...Petitioner in Cont.P.No.2751/2024 L.R.Jobin ...Petitioner in Cont.P.No.2752/2024 T.Justin Raj ...Petitioner in Cont.P.No.2753/2024 J.Viju ...Petitioner in Cont.P.No.2754/2024 K.Balagopalan Nair ...Petitioner in Cont.P.No.2755/2024

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Vs.

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1.Supriya Sahu, I.A.S., The Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Department of Public Health & Family Welfare, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

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2.Dr.Selvavinayagam, The Director of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, DMS Compound, Teynampet, Chennai – 600 018.

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...Respondents in all petitions

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2750 to 2755 of 2024

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COMMON PRAYER: Contempt Petitions filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, praying to punish the respondents for committing willful disobedience of the order of this Court passed in W.A.Nos.62, 73, 59 66, 65 and 68 of 2023 dated 01.08.2023.

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For Petitioners : M/s.Anna Mathew in all petitions For Respondents : M/s.M.Sneha, Spl. Counsel in all petitions

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COMMON ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.)

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These Contempt Petitions have been instituted seeking to punish the respondents for their wilful disobedience of the order of this Court dated 01.08.2023 passed in W.A.Nos.62, 73, 59 66, 65 and 68 of 2023.

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2. M/s.Anna Mathew, learned counsel for the contempt petitioners and the learned Special Counsel for the respondents would submit that the order of this Court has been complied with in all respects.

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3. The learned counsel for the contempt petitioners would submit that regarding deduction of tax a direction is to be issued.

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2750 to 2755 of 2024

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4. This Court is not inclined to give any further direction in the present Contempt Petition by expanding the scope. More so, in the Contempt Petition such direction cannot be issued. If at all any grievance exists, it is for the

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petitioners to approach the Authorities in the manner known to law.

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5. With these observations, these contempt petitions are closed .

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(S.M.S., J.) (M.S.Q., J.) 10.10.2025

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dsa

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Internet :Yes/No Index :Yes/No Neutral Citation :Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order

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