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S.Natarajan Vs r.ponmudi — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2025)

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S.Natarajan Vs r.ponmudiS.Natarajan v. r.ponmudi

Disposed¶26

S.Natarajan v. r.ponmudi

Madras HC10 Sept 2025CONT P(MD)/1943/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madurai Bench, Madras High Court; Cont.P.(MD)No.1943 of 2024 in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024; decided 10.09.2025 by L. Victoria Gowri, J. Contempt petition for wilful disobedience of order dated 12.03.2024 directing implementation of Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority, Tanjore order dated 22.05.2023 under the TN Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen Act, 1981); underlying order quashed in W.A.(MD)No.2159 of 2025 (allowed 20.08.2025) after W.P.(MD)No.17760 of 2024 was dismissed on 18.12.2024; Court held nothing survived and closed the petition. Relevant to searches on contempt petitions rendered infructuous when the order sought to be enforced is quashed in appeal; Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Kumbakonam Limited; permanent status to workmen.

What did the court decide?

Since the order sought to be implemented in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 has itself been quashed in the Writ Appeal (W.A.(MD)No.2159 of 2025, decided 20.08.2025), nothing survives for adjudication in this Contempt Petition.

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Disposed

Issue for consideration

Whether anything survives for adjudication in the Contempt Petition, given that the order sought to be implemented in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 has itself been quashed in the Writ Appeal.

Court's answer

Since the order sought to be implemented in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 has itself been quashed in the Writ Appeal (W.A.(MD)No.2159 of 2025, decided 20.08.2025), nothing survives for adjudication in this Contempt Petition.

Ratio / Principle

Accordingly, the Contempt Petition stands closed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt Petition under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 alleging wilful disobedience of the High Court's order dated 12.03.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024, whereby the respondent (Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Kumbakonam Limited) had been directed to consider the petitioner's case in line with the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority, Tanjore order dated 22.05.2023 under the TN Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen Act, 1981) and pass appropriate orders within 12 weeks. The Corporation's own challenge to the ACL order (W.P.(MD)No.17760 of 2024) was dismissed on 18.12.2024, but its Writ Appeal W.A.(MD)No.2159 of 2025 succeeded on 20.08.2025, quashing the writ order. Holding that the very order sought to be enforced stood quashed, the Court found nothing survived for adjudication and closed the Contempt Petition (L. Victoria Gowri, J.; 10.09.2025).

A

Cont.P.(MD)No.1943 of 2024

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 10.09.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI

Cont.P(MD)No.1943 of 2024 in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024

S.Natarajan

... Petitioner

Vs.

R.Ponmudi, The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Kumbakonam Limited, No.27, Railway Station New Road, Kumbakonam – 612 001.

... Respondent

PRAYER : Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act, 1971, to punish the respondents herein for committing grave contempt and willfull disobedience in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 dated 12.03.2024.

For Petitioner : Mr.H.Mahamed Hussain For Respondent : Mr.K.Ramaiah, Standing Counsel

ORDER

This Contempt Petition has been filed complaining of wilful

disobedience of the order, dated 12.03.2024, in W.P(MD)No.5849 of 2024 by

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Cont.P.(MD)No.1943 of 2024

the respondent.

2.Today, when the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has filed a Writ Petition in W.P(MD)No.5849 of 2024, seeking to direct the respondent to implement the order passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority under TN Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen Act, 1981), Tanjore, dated 22.05.2023. This Court vide order dated 12.03.2024, directed the respondent to consider the case of the petitioner in line with the order passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority under TN Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen Act, 1981) dated 22.05.2023 and pass appropriate order in accordance with law within a period of 12 weeks. Thereafter, the respondent herein has filed another Writ Petition in W.P. (MD)No.17760 of 2024, challenging the order passed by the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority under TN Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen Act, 1981), Tanjore, dated 22.05.2023. However, this Court vide order dated 18.12.2024, dismissed the said Writ Petition.

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Cont.P.(MD)No.1943 of 2024

3.The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent submitted that the Writ Appeal in W.A.(MD)No.2159 of 2025 has been preferred as against the order passed in W.P.(MD)No.17760 of 2024 and the Hon'ble Division Bench of this Court has allowed the Writ Appeal, by quashing the impugned writ order, by order dated 20.08.2025.

4.Recording the fact that the order sought to be implemented in W.P. (MD)No.5849 of 2024 itself is quashed in the Writ Appeal supra, nothing survives for adjudication in this Contempt Petition. Accordingly, this Contempt Petition stands closed.

10.09.2025

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes Mrn

To

The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Kumbakonam Limited, No.27, Railway Station New Road, Kumbakonam – 612 001.

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Cont.P.(MD)No.1943 of 2024

L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J.

MRN

Cont.P(MD)No.1943 of 2024

10.09.2025

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Issues for consideration

1 issue framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether anything survives for adjudication in the Contempt Petition, given that the order sought to be implemented in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 has itself been quashed in the Writ Appeal.¶26
The court held
Since the order sought to be implemented in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 has itself been quashed in the Writ Appeal (W.A.(MD)No.2159 of 2025, decided 20.08.2025), nothing survives for adjudication in this Contempt Petition.ratio¶26

Statutes considered

2 provisions across 2 enactments

AI extract

Contempt of Court Act, 1971Section 11¶12
Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen) Act, 1981TN Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen Act, 1981¶21

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Order dated 12.03.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 directing the respondent to consider the petitioner's case in line with the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority order dated 22.05.2023 and pass appropriate orders within 12 weeks; the Contempt Petition alleges its wilful disobedience by the respondent.¶21
Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) · 12.03.2024
Prior proceeding
Petitioner filed W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 seeking implementation of the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority order dated 22.05.2023; the High Court by order dated 12.03.2024 directed the respondent to consider the petitioner's case in line with that order and pass appropriate orders within 12 weeks.¶21
Prior proceeding
Respondent filed W.P.(MD)No.17760 of 2024 challenging the Assistant Commissioner of Labour order dated 22.05.2023; this Court dismissed that Writ Petition on 18.12.2024.¶21
Prior proceeding
Respondent preferred Writ Appeal W.A.(MD)No.2159 of 2025 against the order in W.P.(MD)No.17760 of 2024; the Hon'ble Division Bench allowed the Writ Appeal and quashed the writ order on 20.08.2025.¶25

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
S.Natarajan¶7
Mr.H.Mahamed Hussain
respondent
R.Ponmudi, The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Kumbakonam Limited, No.27, Railway Station New Road, Kumbakonam – 612 001.¶10
Mr.K.Ramaiah

Coram

AI extract

L.VICTORIA GOWRIauthor¶5

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Madras HC
Decided on: 10 Sept 2025 · September
Registered: 5 Sept 2024
Case no.: CONT P(MD)/1943/2024
CNR: HCMD010923752024
Topic: Contempt of Court
Bench: L.victoria Gowri
Disposal: CLOSED
Case type: Cont.P.(MD)

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Cite this judgement

S.Natarajan v. r.ponmudi, CONT P(MD)/1943/2024 (MAD), decided on 10 September 2025.

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

Statutes2

Contempt of Court Act, 1971Section 11
Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen) Act, 1981TN Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen Act, 1981

View all statutes

Procedural history4

Order dated 12.03.2024 in W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 directing the respondent to consider the petitioner's case in line with the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority order dated 22.05.2023 and pass appropriate orders within 12 weeks; the Contempt Petition alleges its wilful disobedience by the respondent.Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) · 12.03.2024
Petitioner filed W.P.(MD)No.5849 of 2024 seeking implementation of the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Enforcement) Authority order dated 22.05.2023; the High Court by order dated 12.03.2024 directed the respondent to consider the petitioner's case in line with that order and pass appropriate orders within 12 weeks.
Respondent filed W.P.(MD)No.17760 of 2024 challenging the Assistant Commissioner of Labour order dated 22.05.2023; this Court dismissed that Writ Petition on 18.12.2024.

View full history

Bench / Coram

L.VICTORIA GOWRI

Parties & counsel