Disposed¶96

Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, v. State of Tamilnadu

Madras HC10 Dec 2025WP(MD)/6749/2019

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

PIL disposal; women and child protection Tamil Nadu; all-women protection committee retired woman Judge; Tamil Nadu Women Commission G.O.Ms.No.88 22.12.2017; Standard Operating Procedure G.O.Ms.No.64 18.06.2025 workplace safety extended to schools; monitoring direction respondents 1,4,5,9; Article 226 writ of mandamus; W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019; Madurai Bench Madras High Court; Dr. G. Jayachandran J.; K.K. Ramakrishnan J.; no cases cited.

What did the court decide?

Writ Petition disposed with a direction to respondents 1, 4, 5 & 9 to monitor, with the other stake holders, implementation of statutes enacted for the protection of women and children; no order as to costs. The sought all-women protection committee was not directed to be appointed. ¶96

Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, Vs State of Tamilnadu — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing appointment of an all-women protection committee headed by a retired woman Judge of the court, with eminent members, to address vulnerability of girl children and women in Tamil Nadu. +1 more

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Ratio / Principle

The Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to respondents 1, 4, 5 & 9 to monitor, with the other stake holders, the implementation of the statutes enacted for the protection of women and children; there shall be no order as to costs.

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Key takeaways

If the Women Commission as constituted by the Government vide G.O.Ms.No.88 dated 22.12.2017 functions in consonance with its object, protection of women and children will be substantially taken care of.obiter¶91
The Standard Operating Procedure providing guidelines for protection of women at work place can also be applied to children in schools and other places.obiter¶92

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Public Interest Litigation (W.P.(MD)No.6749 of 2019, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, disposed 10.12.2025) seeking a writ of mandamus for appointment of an all-women protection committee headed by a retired woman Judge to protect girl children and women in Tamil Nadu. The Court noted the police report of the IGP, South Zone, the counter of the Tamil Nadu Women Commission constituted under G.O.Ms.No.88 dated 22.12.2017, and the Standard Operating Procedure under G.O.Ms.No.64 dated 18.06.2025, observing that the SOP for workplaces can extend to children in schools. Disposed with a direction to respondents 1 (Social Welfare Ministry), 4 (IGP South Zone), 5 (Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Women Commission) and 9 (TN State Commission for Protection of Child Rights) to monitor implementation of statutes for protection of women and children; no costs. Bench: Dr. G. Jayachandran, J. (author) and K.K. Ramakrishnan, J.

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 10.12.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE G.JAYACHANDRAN and

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN

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W.P.(MD)No.6749 of 2019

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1.Karthikeya Sivasenapathy

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2.Karuppasamy Pandian

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... Petitioners

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-vs-

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1.State of Tamil Nadu,

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Rep by its Social Welfare Ministry,

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Fort St. George, Secretariat,

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Chennai – 600 009.

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2.Law Ministry,

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Rep. by its Secretary,

Fort St. George,

Secretariat,

Chennai – 600 009.

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

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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3.The Director,

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The Central Bureau of Investigation,

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Near Indian Overseas Bank, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 006.

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4.The Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Madurai.

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5.The Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Women Commission, No.745, Anna Salai, Chennai.

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6.The National Commission for Women, Plot No.21, FC33 Jasola Institutional Area, Jasola New Delhi, Delhi – 110 025.

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7.Indian Council for Child Welfare, No.5, 3^rd Main Road West, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai – 600 030.

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8.National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Rep. by its Chairman, Chander Lok,

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

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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5^th Floor, Building,

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36, Janpath Road, Peeraghari,

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HC Mathur Lance, New Delhi – 110 001.

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9.Tamil Nadu State Commission For Protection of Child Rights, Rep. by its Chairman, 183/1, EVR Periyar Salai, Poonamalli High Road, Dasspuram, Kilpauk, Chennai- 600 010.

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10.Dr. Nappinai Seran,

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Clinical Psychologist, Block C, Plot No.1053, West Minster Apartments, 4th Main Road, ERI Scheme, Mogappair, Chennai - 600 037.

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11.Dr.C.Ramasubramaniam,

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State Nodal Officer to Police Well Being, 643, K.K. Nagar, Madurai-20.

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12.Dr. Vasudha Prakash,

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Founder Director V Excel Educational Trust, 10/23, Thiruvengadam Street, Perumal Koil Thottam, Ramakrishna Nagar, Ra Puram, Chennai- 600 028.

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13.Mrs.Ramathal Natarajan,

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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Ex Chairman, Tamil Nadu Women Commission, Thalirkudil, Periyar Kalam,

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Vaikalvazhi Salai, Thondamuthur, Coimbatore.

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14.M.S.Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation,

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43, K.K.Nagar, Madurai- 625 020.

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15.The Secretary to Government, Union Ministry of Communications, Govt of India, New Delhi.

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16.Facebook India,

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Rep.By its India Vice President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan, 8th and 9th Floors, Tower C Building,

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No.8 DLF Cyber City,

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Gurugram, Haryana – 122 001.

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17.Whats App India,

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Rep. by its Head Abhijit Bose, Gurugram, Haryana.

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18.Google India,

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Rep. by its Managing Director Rajan Anandan

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Tower E., 4th Floor, Rmz Infinity, No.3, Swamy Vivekananda Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka -560 016.

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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19.The Government of India, Represented by its Secretary,

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Ministry of Women and Child Development, New Delhi.

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... Respondents

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[R6 to 18 are impleaded vide WMP(MD)No.7601 of 2019]

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[R19 is Suo Motu impleaded Vide Court Order Dated 11.12.2020]

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PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, praying to issue a direction for appointment of an all women protection committee headed by a retired woman Judge of this court along with eminent members to address the issue in totality.

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For Petitioner : Mr.Pariventhan

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for Ms.K.R.Ananda Gomathi

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For Respondents 1, 2 & 5 : Mr.J.Ashok,

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Additional Government Pleader

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For Respondent No.4 : Mr.K.Gnanasekaran

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Government Advocate [Crl. Side]

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For Respondents 6 to 14,

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16 to 18 : Not ready For Respondents 15 & 19 : No appearance

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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O R D E R

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[Order of the Court was made by DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN, J.]

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A Public Interest Litigation is filed expressing concern over the vulnerability of girl children and women in Tamil Nadu for being subjected to several heinous crime.

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2. The petitioner herein has suggested for a constitution of a permanent committee consisting of a retired High Court Women Judge along with members of Administrative Service, Woman Advocate and Psychologist and has also suggested the scope of activity and responsibility of the said commission.

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3. The Inspector General of Police, South Zone, Madurai, who is the fourth respondent herein has filed his report stating the measures taken by the police department to control the crime against women and children. The Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Women Commission, who is a retired IAS officer has also filed a counter, wherein it is reported that the Social Welfare department in the State of Tamil Nadu has constituted a Women

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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Commission consisting of a chairperson and 7 members with the Principal Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare and Nutritional Meal Programme Department as Ex-officio member and the Director of Social Welfare Department as Member Secretary. The composition of the Women Commission consists of a women IAS officer, IPS officers and also women members of Legislative Assembly. The functioning of the Commission is extracted in the counter and it is suffice to record that if the Women Commission as constituted by the Government vide G.O.Ms.No.88 dated 22.12.2017, functions in consonance with the object, the protection of women and children, will be substantially taken care of.

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4. Learned Additional Government Pleader has also produced the Standard Operating Procedure formulated by the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department issued under G.O.Ms.No.64 dated 18.06.2025. The Standard Operating Procedure is more explicit in providing guidelines for protection of women at work place. The same Standard Operating Procedure can be applied to children in schools and other places.

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W.P.(MD) No.6749 of 2019

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5. Taking into consideration the measures taken by the Government in taking forward the responsibility of protecting women and children, we are inclined to dispose of this Writ Petition, with a direction to the respondents 1, 4, 5 & 9 to monitor with the other stake holders, the implementation of the statutes which are enacted for the protection of women and children. There shall be no order as to costs.

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[G.J., J.] & [K.K.R.K., J.]

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10.12.2025

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

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