Disposed¶36

Suresh v. the Secretary to Government

Madras HC17 Feb 2025WP/5099/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Mandamus; Article 226; scholarship; Chief Minister's scheme; backward class student; physiotherapy course; second-year scholarship not disbursed; Rs.1,750/- eligible amount; delay condonation; VAO enquiry; Tahsildar Valparai; District Collector Coimbatore; release within one week; website-uploaded copy; no certified copy insisted; representation dated 18.05.2024; writ petition disposed of; no costs.

What did the court decide?

Mandamus effectively granted: delay condoned; 3rd respondent directed to treat the application and reports as within time and release the eligible second-year scholarship amount (Rs.1,750/-) within one week, without insisting for a certified copy; writ petition disposed of with no costs. ¶36

Suresh Vs the Secretary to Government — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the eligible scholarship amount for the second year of the petitioner's physiotherapy course must be released notwithstanding the delay in completion of the application process.

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Court's answer

Since the Chief Minister's scheme is framed with the object of encouraging poor students like the petitioner, the court held that the detailed investigation into how the delay happened need not be gone into and the delay, if any, shall stand condoned.

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Ratio / Principle

The 3rd respondent (Tahsildar) shall treat the petitioner's application and reports as within time and release the eligible amount within one week from receipt/production of the website-uploaded copy of the order, without insisting for a certified copy.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Madras (D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.), W.P.No.5099 of 2025, decided 17.02.2025: Suresh, a student undergoing a physiotherapy course who stated he belongs to the backward class, sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 of the Constitution of India directing the District Collector and the Tahsildar, Valparai to dispose of his representation dated 18.05.2024. His scholarship under the Chief Minister's scheme had been disbursed for the first year but not the second year, for which the State admitted he was eligible for Rs.1,750/-; the delay was attributed to the incomplete application process, which the petitioner said arose from the enquiry made by the Village Administrative Officer. Holding that the scheme is framed to encourage poor students and the detailed investigation into how the delay happened need not be gone into, the learned Judge condoned the delay, directed the 3rd respondent to treat the application and reports as within time, and to release the eligible amount within one week from receipt/production of the website-uploaded copy of the order, without insisting for a certified copy. Writ petition disposed of with the above directions; no costs.

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W.P.No.5099 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 17.02.2025

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CORAM :

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY

W.P.No.5099 of 2025

Suresh

.. Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Secretary to Government Social Welfare & Women Empowerment Department Commissionerate of Social Welfare Lady Willington College Campus Kamarajar Salai, Chennai – 600 005.

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2.The District Collector Collectorate Building Coimbatore – 641 018.

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3.The Tahsildar Taluk Office – Valparai, MGR Nagar Valparai – 642 127.

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4.Village Administrative Officer VAO Office No.1, Anaimalai Kundrugal (South) Valparai Taluk, Valparai – 642 127.

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5.Village Administrative Officer No.1, Anaimalai Kundrugal (North) Valparai Taluk, Valparai – 642 127. .. Respondents

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Page 1 of 6

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

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W.P.No.5099 of 2025

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Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2^nd respondent and 3^rd respondent to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 18.05.2024 within a timeframe and pass such further order.

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For the Petitioner : Ms.S.Thamizharasi

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For the Respondents : Mr.Senthil Murugan Special Government Pleader for RR1 & 2 Mr.P.Murthi Government Advocate for RR3 to 5

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ORDER

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This Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus, directing the respondents 2 and 3 to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 18.05.2024, within a time frame.

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The grievance of the petitioner is that he belongs to the backward state of society and he is entitled to a scholarship, in view of the fact that he is undergoing physiotherapy course. Even though the petitioner made application in respect of two years, it was disbursed for the first year and in respect of the second year, it was not disbursed.

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Page 2 of 6

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

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W.P.No.5099 of 2025

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When the matter came up for hearing, the learned Special Government

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Pleader taking notice on behalf of the respondents 1 and 2 would submit as far as the second year is concerned, though the petitioner was eligible for a sum of Rs.1,750/-, the application process could not be completed in time and therefore, the amount was not released.

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The petitioner submitted that he is not responsible for the delay and the delay occurred in the enquiry that is made by the Village Administrative Officer.

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Be that as it may, when the scheme itself to encourage the poor students

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like the petitioner and when the Chief Minister's scheme is framed with that intent, the detailed investigation as to how the delay happened need not be gone into. Suffice it to mention that with the object of the scheme, the entire issue can be dealt with and the delay if any shall stand condoned and the 3^rd respondent shall treat the application and the reports are all within time and release the eligible amount to the petitioner, within a period of one week from the date of receipt / production of the website uploaded copy of this order, without insisting for a certified copy.

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Page 3 of 6

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

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W.P.No.5099 of 2025

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With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. No

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costs.

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17.02.2025 Neutral Citation : No Jer To 1.The Secretary to Government Social Welfare & Women Empowerment Department Commissionerate of Social Welfare Lady Willington College Campus Kamarajar Salai, Chennai – 600 005. 2.The District Collector Collectorate Building Coimbatore – 641 018. 3.The Tahsildar Taluk Office – Valparai, MGR Nagar Valparai – 642 127. 4.The Village Administrative Officer VAO Office No.1, Anaimalai Kundrugal (South) Valparai Taluk, Valparai – 642 127.

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5.The Village Administrative Officer

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Page 4 of 6

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

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W.P.No.5099 of 2025

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No.1, Anaimalai Kundrugal (North) Valparai Taluk, Valparai – 642 127.

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