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P.Somasundaram v. Mehra computer systems company

Madras HC27 Jun 2025WP/20139/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Condonation of delay 136 days; Joint Commissioner of Labour (Shops and Establishment), Teynampet; disposal of condonation application on merits; maintainability; resignation; removal from service 27.09.2019; Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation); writ of certiorarified mandamus; Article 226; Madras High Court; W.P.No.20139 of 2022; Justice P. Dhanabal; decision date 27.06.2025; no appearance for first respondent despite notice and causelist.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition allowed; impugned order in T.N.S.E./I.A.10 of 2021 set aside; delay of 136 days condoned; second respondent directed to number the appeal and dispose of it on merits after affording opportunity to both parties; no costs. ¶29

P.Somasundaram Vs Mehra computer systems company — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the second respondent acted erroneously in adjudging the petition not maintainable on its merits instead of examining the reasons offered for the 136-day delay in the condonation application. +1 more

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Court's answer

The authority erred in disposing of the condonation-of-delay petition on merits (holding it not maintainable because the petitioner had resigned) without examining the reasons stated for the delay.

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Ratio / Principle

Having regard to the petitioner's recourse to the Assistant Commissioner of Labour and the pendency of conciliation after the termination order, the delay of 136 days in filing the petition is condoned.

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Key takeaways

The order passed by the second respondent is set aside; the second respondent is directed to number the appeal and dispose of it on merits after affording opportunity to both parties in accordance with law, with no costs.ratio¶32

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Hon'ble Mr. Justice P. Dhanabal), W.P.No.20139 of 2022, decided 27.06.2025: An employee who served the first respondent from 01.12.1997 until his removal/resignation on 27.09.2019 filed a petition before the Joint Commissioner of Labour (Shops and Establishment) with a delay of 136 days, supported by a condonation application citing intervening conciliation efforts before the Assistant Commissioner of Labour at which the employer appeared but no settlement resulted. The Commissioner, without weighing the reasons for the delay, discussed the merits and dismissed the petition as not maintainable on the ground that the petitioner had resigned. Holding that the authority ought to have examined the reasons for the delay rather than the merits, the Court condoned the 136-day delay, set aside the order dated 21.04.2022, and directed the second respondent to number the appeal and dispose of it on merits after affording opportunity to both parties; no costs.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 27.06.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.DHANABAL

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W.P.No.20139 of 2022

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P.Somasundaram, S/o. Palani, Block No.C9, Flat No.403, Prince Village, No.8, Elaya Mudali Street, Tondiarpet, Chennai – 600 081. ... Petitioner

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1.Mehra Computer System Company, Office Factory Address, Thangavelu Engineering College Road, OMR Road, Chennai – 600 096.

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2.The Joint Commissioner of Labour, (Shops and Establishment)

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Teynampet, Chennai – 600 006. ... Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records in pertaining to impugned order in T.N.S.E.II/I.A.10/2021 dated 21.04.2022 passed by Joint Commissioner of Labour, (Shops and establishment), Teynampet, Chennai – 600 006, the second respondent herein and quashed the same and also direct the respondent to conduct fresh enquiry and dispose the condone delay petition according to law.

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

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For Petitioner : Mr.V.Venkatesan For Respondent : No Appearance for R1 Mr.L.S.M. Hasan Fizal, AGP for R2

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O R D E R

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This petition has been filed by the petitioner to quash the order passed by the second respondent in T.N.S.E.II/I.A.10/2021 dated 21.04.2022.

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2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner joined the service in the first respondent / management on 01.12.1997 in the D.T.P. Department and thereafter continued with promotion in management till 27.09.2019 as Senior Manager. Due to continuous harassment from the management, the petitioner was forcibly removed from service. Therefore, he resigned from the job. Thereafter, he approached the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), and the first respondent/manager also appeared, but no amicable settlement was arrived between the parties. Therefore, he approached the second respondent for his removal from service dated 27.09.2019, with delay of 136 days. However, the second respondent without considering the

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

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reasons stated by the petitioner in the condonation of delay application, discussed the merits of the case and dismissed the petition as not maintainable. No opportunity was given to the petitioner to argue the matter on merits in respect of the maintainability, and the I.A. was filed only to condone the delay of 136 days. Therefore, the second respondent, ought to have discussed the reasons for the delay and not the merits of the case. Therefore, the order passed by the second respondent is erroneous and the same is liable to be quashed.

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3. The petitioner side has already been heard and posted today for

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the hearing of the respondent side. Despite notice being served on the respondent and the name of the respondent was also printed in the causelist, there is no appearance for the respondent.

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4. This Court heard the argument of the petitioner and perused the material available on record.

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5. The main contention raised by the petitioner is that the second respondent, without considering the prayer sought in the petition to condone the delay of 136 days, passed the order on merits, stating that the

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

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petition is not maintainable since the petitioner resigned from the job. In condoning the delay petition, without examining the reasons stated by the petitioner, the authority disposed of the petition on merits is not at all acceptable. According to the petitioner, immediately after his removal from service on 27.09.2019, he approached the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation) at Sriperumbudur and the first respondent also appeared for enquiry, but no amicable settlement was arrived between the parties. Therefore, there is a delay of 136 days in filing the petition. Therefore, the authority has not considered the above said reasons and passed the order on merits, even without hearing the petitioner. Therefore, the order passed by the second respondent is not acceptable. Considering the reasons stated by the petitioner that after the termination order, he approached the Assistant Commissioner of Labour, and the matter was pending for conciliation, it is appropriate to allow this writ petition by condoning the delay of 136 days in filing the petition. Therefore, the order passed by the second respondent is set aside.

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6. In the result, this writ petition is allowed and the order passed by the second respondent in T.N.S.E./I.A.10 of 2021 is set aside and the

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

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second respondent is directed to number the appeal and dispose the same on merits after affording opportunity to both parties in accordance with law. No costs.

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27.06.2025

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drl Speaking/Non Speaking Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No

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1.Mehra Computer System Company, Office Factory Address, Thangavelu Engineering College Road, OMR Road, Chennai – 600 096.

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2.The Joint Commissioner of Labour, (Shops and Establishment) Teynampet, Chennai – 600 006.

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

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