R.Indra Vs Tmt.M.Aruna IAS — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

R.Indra Vs Tmt.M.Aruna IAS — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No punishment imposed; the contempt petition was closed on the strength of the State's recorded statement that the petitioner will be accommodated as and when a vacancy arises under the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023, and until then will be given temporary work in the office of the 3rd respondent at Rs.18,000/- per month; liberty was expressly reserved to the petitioner to re-open the petition upon any violation.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents committed wilful disobedience of the order dated 15.09.2023 in W.P.No.20307 of 2023, which directed the 3rd respondent to consider the petitioner's application for compassionate appointment without referring to limitation and to provide her appointment in any suitable post.

Court's answer

On recording the statement made by the learned Additional Advocate General on behalf of respondents 1 to 4 — that compassionate appointments are now governed by the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023, under which the petitioner's seniority stands renewed, that she will be accommodated whenever a vacancy arises, and that till such time she will be given temporary work in the office of the 3rd respondent/Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, on all official working days at Rs.18,000/- per month — this Court closed the Contempt Petition for the present, with liberty to the petitioner to re-open the same if there is any violation.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt Petition (CONT P No. 580 of 2024, High Court of Judicature at Madras, N. Sathish Kumar J., 15-12-2025) filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 by R.Indra alleging wilful disobedience of the order dated 15.09.2023 in W.P.No.20307 of 2023, which had directed the 3rd respondent (Divisional Engineer, Highways) to consider her application for compassionate appointment without referring to limitation and to provide her appointment in any suitable post: Recording the statement of the learned Additional Advocate General that compassionate appointments are now governed by the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023, under which the petitioner's seniority stands renewed and she will be accommodated as and when a vacancy arises, and that meanwhile she will be given temporary work in the Divisional Engineer's office on all official working days at Rs.18,000/- per month, the Court closed the contempt petition with liberty to the petitioner to re-open the same in the event of any violation.

CONT P No. 580 of 2024

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 15-12-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR

CONT P No. 580 of 2024

R.Indra

Petitioner(s)

Vs

Tmt.M.Aruna IAS The District Collector Nilgiri District.

2.Er.R.Chandrasekhar The Chief Engineer, Highways Department (Construction And Maintenance), Guindy, Chennai-25.

3.Mr.Kulandhairaj The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department (Construction And Maintenance) Nilgiris District.

4.Mr.Subrmanian The Assistant Engineer, Highways Department, Gudalur, Nilgiri District.

Contemnor(s)

PRAYER

Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to punish the respondents for non-compliance of the order passed in W.P.No.20307 of 2023, dated 15.09.2023.

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

CONT P No. 580 of 2024

For Petitioner: Mr.S.N.Ravichandran

For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Suresh Kumar Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.P.Balathandayutham Special Government Pleader for R1 to R4

ORDER

This Contempt Petition has been filed alleging wilful disobedience of the orders of this Court, in W.P.No.20307 of 2023, dated 15.09.2023, directing the 3^rd respondent to consider the application of the petitioner for compassionate appointment without referring to limitation and provide appointment to her in any suitable post.

2.Today, Mr.S.Kulandhairaju, Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, is present before this Court.

3.Learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents 1 to 4, on instructions, would submit that, since the compassionate appointment is now governed by the new Rules, viz., Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023, the petitioner’s seniority is also renewed and whenever, vacancy arises, the petitioner will be accommodated and till such time, the petitioner will be given a temporary work in the office of

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

CONT P No. 580 of 2024

the 3^rd respondent/Divisional Engineer, Highways Department, on all official working days, at a remuneration of Rs.18,000/- (Rupees Eighteen Thousand only) per month.

4.Recording the said statement, this Contempt Petition is closed for the

present with a liberty to the petitioner to re-open the same, if there is any violation.

15-12-2025

mkn

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

To

1.The District Collector Nilgiri District.

2.The Chief Engineer, Highways Department (Construction And Maintenance), Guindy, Chennai-25.

3.The Divisional Engineer, Highways Department (Construction And Maintenance) Nilgiris District.

4.The Assistant Engineer, Highways Department, Gudalur, Nilgiri District.

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

CONT P No. 580 of 2024

N.SATHISH KUMAR J.

mkn

CONT P No. 580 of 2024

15-12-2025

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