S.Dinakar Senthilkumar and 2 others Vs Mr. Gagandeep Singh… — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

S.Dinakar Senthilkumar and 2 others Vs Mr. Gagandeep Singh… — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No punishment imposed on the contemnors; further action in both Contempt Petitions dropped and both petitions closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents (contemnors) should be punished for their willful and intentional disobedience to the order of this Court in W.P.Nos. 3197 & 3441 of 2021 dated 19.01.2024. +1 more

Court's answer

Further action in both the Contempt Petitions was dropped and both Contempt Petitions were closed, no punishment being imposed on the contemnors.

Ratio / Principle

The orders of this Court in W.P.Nos. 3197 & 3441 of 2021 dated 19.01.2024 have been substantially complied with, in view of the age relaxation granted to the petitioners by G.O.Ms.No.240 dated 31.10.2025 and the bringing of the posts of Overseer, Junior Draughting Officer and Road Inspector under the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission by G.O.Ms.No.97 dated 25.08.2022.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt Petitions (CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025) filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 by seven petitioners against four officials of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj establishment (the Additional Chief Secretary, the Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, the District Collector, Cuddalore, and the Block Development Officer, Kumaratchi) for alleged willful and intentional disobedience of the orders dated 19.01.2024 in W.P.Nos. 3197 & 3441 of 2021 — which had restored the petitioners' employment seniority and directed the respondents to write to the employment exchange and consider their names for existing or future vacancies with due age relaxation — were closed, the Court finding substantial compliance: G.O.(Ms).No.240, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (E3) Department, dated 31.10.2025 granted the petitioners and others age relaxation with liberty to participate in the next recruitment process, and the posts of Overseer, Junior Draughting Officer and Road Inspector had already been brought from District Collector-level appointment within the purview of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission as Non-Interview Posts by G.O.(Ms).No.97 dated 25.08.2022, even prior to the writ orders. Further action in both Contempt Petitions was dropped; no punishment was imposed. Single Judge: Dr Justice R.N. Manjula; decided 17-11-2025.

CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-11-2025

CORAM

THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE R.N.MANJULA

CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

S.Dinakar Senthilkumar S/o.Shanmugam, 4/67,Main Road, Vallampadukai PO, Chindambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District 608 401

S.Raja Ravivarman, S/o.Subramaniam, 561, Kulathumettu Street, Kodipallam Village, Vinathur PO, Chidambaram Taluk 608 102

S.Kalaivanan, S/o.M.Chakravarthi, 4/56-A, Main Road, Panathurchavadi PO, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District 608 201

..Petitioners in Cont.P.No.3576/2025

1.B.Mahalakshmi,

D/o.V.Balasubramanian

No.2, Chetty Street, Buvanagiri, Buvanagiri Taluk, Cuddalore District 608 601.

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CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

2.K.Menaka,

D/o.V.Kalyanaraman, No.23, Thiripura Sundari Nagar, Thenpathy, Sirkali Taluk, Nagapattinam 609 111.

3.K.Thilagavathi, D/o.V.Kaliyamurthy No.22, Sivasubramaniyam Nagar, Near V.S.R. Nagar, Chidambaram 608 001.

4.K.Udhayakavitha D/o.M.Kannuswamy, No.514, Main Road, Orathur & Post, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore District 608 201.

..Petitioners in Cont.P.No.3577/2025

Vs

Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, IAS., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

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CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

Mr.P.Ponniah, I.A.S.,

(Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj) Panagal building, Saidapet, Chennai-15.

Mr. Sibi Adhithya Senthil Jumar, I.A.S., District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

Mr. Sundaram, Block Development Officer, Kumaratchi Block, Cuddalore District.

..Contemnors in both Petitions

COMMON PRAYER: These Contempt Petitions are filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to punish the respondents for their willful and intentional disobedience to the order of this Court in W.P.Nos. 3197 & 3441 of 2021 dated 19.01.2024 respectively.

(In both Petitions)

For Petitioner(s): Mr. M.Muthappan, For Contemnor(s): Mr.V.Manoharan, Additional Government Pleader

COMMON ORDER

These Contempt Petitions are filed to punish the respondents for their willful and intentional disobedience to the order of this Court made in W.P.Nos. 3197 & 3441 of 2021 dated 19.01.2024 respectively.

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CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

2.This Court has passed orders on 19.01.2024 in W.P.Nos. 3197 & 3441 of 2021 to restore the seniority of the petitioners in both Contempt Petitions by directing the respondents to write to the employment exchange and consider their names for appointment of the existing vacancies or future vacancies by giving due age relaxation.

3.The learned Additional Government Pleader submitted that a Government Order has been issued in G.O.(Ms).No.240, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (E3) Department, dated 31.10.2025 by giving age relaxation to the petitioners and others, along with a liberty to participate in the next recruitment process.

4.But however, in the records of the above Government Order, the orders passed in these Writ Petitions do not find place.

5.However, it is submitted that the posts of Overseer, Junior Draughting Officer and Road Inspector were so far within the appointment power of the respective District Collector and the same has been now brought out within the purview of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission as Non-Interview Posts.

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CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

To this effect, a Government Order has been issued in G.O.(Ms).No.97, Rural

Development and Panchayat Raj (E3) Department, dated 25.08.2022.

6.As the earlier recruitment notification which was under challenge has

been set aside and the employment seniority of these petitioners have been restored and bringing the post of Overseer, Junior Draughting Officer and Road Inspector under the purview of Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission has already been done even before passing of this order by virtue of G.O.Ms.No.97 dated 25.08.2022 and also in view of the subsequent Government Orders passed in G.O.Ms.No.240 dated 31.10.2025 by giving age relaxation to these petitioners also, I feel the orders of this Court in both the Writ Petitions have been substantially complied. Hence, further action in both the Contempt Petitions are dropped.

7.Accordingly, both the Contempt Petitions are closed.

17-11-2025

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

GSA

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CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

To

Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, IAS., Additional Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-9.

Mr.P.Ponniah, I.A.S., (Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj) Panagal building, Saidapet, Chennai-15.

Mr. Sibi Adhithya Senthil Jumar, I.A.S., District Collector, Cuddalore District, Cuddalore.

Mr. Sundaram, Block Development Officer, Kumaratchi Block, Cuddalore District.

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CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

DR.R.N.MANJULA J.

GSA

CONT P Nos. 3576 & 3577 of 2025

17-11-2025

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