Disposed

D.Vijayakuamr v. Mr. K.Nathakumar, I.A.S.

Madras HC17 Jun 2026CONT P/2185/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Contempt petitions alleging wilful disobedience of a 2019 Madras High Court common judgment concerning Deputy Tahsildar appointments and seniority. The court found the order implemented, with panel inclusion and merit seniority granted, noted Supreme Court clarifications permitting individual remedies, and closed the contempt petitions and connected applications.

What the court decided

AI extract

D.Vijayakuamr Vs Mr. K.Nathakumar, I.A.S. — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2026)

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 17-06-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR

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Contempt Petition Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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and Sub.Appl.Nos.652 and 653 of 2023, 159 of 2022 and Sub.Appl.687 and 800 of 2025

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Cont.P.No.2185 of 2024

D.Vijayakumar

… Petitioner

-vs-

Mr.K.Nanthakumar IAS The Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu HRM Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

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Mr.S.K.Prabhakar IAS

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The Commissioner for Revenue Administration Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-5.

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Mrs.Kalaiselvi Mohan IAS The District Collector, Kanchipuram.

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Mr.S.Arunraj IAS The District Collector, Chengalpattu. … Respondents

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Prayer : Contempt Petition under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for the wilful violation and disobeyance of the judgment of this Court dated 15.11.2019 in W.P.No.18725 of 2018 etc., batch.

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__________ Page 1 of 11

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

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For Petitioners

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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: Mr.N.Subramaniyan

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For Respondents : Mr.T.Gowthaman, Additional Advocate General assisted by Dr.R.Gowri, Government Counsel for R1 to R4

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Cont.P.No.2168 of 2024

S.Ramaraj

… Petitioner

-vs-

Mr.K.Nanthakumar IAS The Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu HRM Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

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Mr.S.K.Prabhakar IAS The Commissioner for Revenue Administration Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-5.

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Mr.Kranthi Kumar Patil, IAS The District Collector, Coimbatore.

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… Respondents

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For Petitioners : Mr.N.Subramaniyan For Respondents : Mr.T.Gowthaman, Additional Advocate General assisted by Dr.R.Gowri, Government Counsel for R1 to R3

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__________ Page 2 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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Cont.P.No.1692 of 2021

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1.E.Boopathy 2.V.Vijayakumar 3.Y.Ramya 4.R.Latha Priya 5.K.Buvaneshwari 6.S.Anjalai 7.R.Sathiya

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… Petitioners

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-Vs-

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Mrs.Mythili Rajendran IAS Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu HRM Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

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P.Uma Mageswari IAS Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission 3, Frezar Bridge Road, Chennai-3.

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K.Phanindra Reddy IAS The Commissioner of Revenue Administration Chepauk, Chennai-5.

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Dr.M.Arthi IAS The District Collector, Kanchipuram.

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R.Panneerselvam District Revenue Officer Kancheepuram.

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… Respondents

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__________ Page 3 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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For Petitioners : Mr.N.Subramaniyan

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For Respondents : Mr.T.Gowthaman, Additional Advocate General assisted by Dr.R.Gowri, Government Counsel for R1, R3 to R5 Mr.R.Bharanidharan Standing Counsel for R2

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Cont.P.No.164 of 2022

1.G.Sugumar

2.C.Revathi

… Petitioner

-vs-

Mrs.Mythili Rajendran IAS Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu HRM Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

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P.Uma Mageswari IAS Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission 3, Frezar Bridge Road, Chennai-3.

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K.Phanindra Reddy IAS The Commissioner of Revenue Administration Chepauk, Chennai-5.

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Dr.M.Arthi IAS The District Collector, Kanchipuram.

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R.Panneerselvam District Revenue Officer Kancheepuram.

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… Respondents

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Prayer : Contempt Petition under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to punish the respondents for the wilful violation and disobeyance of the

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__________ Page 4 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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judgment of this Court dated 15.11.2019 in W.P.No.18725 of 2018 etc., batch.

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For Petitioners : Mr.G.Sankaran, Senior Counsel for Mr.S.Nedunchezhiyan For Respondents : Mr.T.Gowthaman, Additional Advocate General assisted by Dr.R.Gowri, Government Counsel for R1, R3 to R5 Mr.R.Bharanidharan Standing Counsel for R2

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Sub.Appl(OS) No.159 of 2022 in Cont.P.DR.No.19402 of 2022

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1.S.Srinivasan 2.K.Manivannan

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… Petitioners

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-vs-

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Mrs.Mythili Rajendran IAS Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu HRM Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

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P.Uma Mageswari IAS Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission 3, Frezar Bridge Road, Chennai-3.

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K.Phanindra Reddy IAS The Commissioner of Revenue Administration Chepauk, Chennai-5.

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Dr.M.Arthi IAS The District Collector, Kanchipuram.

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R.Panneerselvam District Revenue Officer Kancheepuram.

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… Respondents

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__________ Page 5 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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Prayer : To permit the applicants to file Contempt Petition against the order of this Court dated 15.11.2019 in W.P.No.18725 of 2018 etc., batch.

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Sub.Appl(OS) No.652 of 2023 in Cont.P.DR.No.103490 of 2023

M.Annamalai

Petitioner

-vs-

Mrs.Mythili Rajendran IAS Principal Secretary, P & AR Department Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009.

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P.Uma Mageswari IAS Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission 3, Frezar Bridge Road, Chennai-3.

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K.Phanindra Reddy IAS The Commissioner of Revenue Administration Chepauk, Chennai-5.

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Dr.M.Arthi IAS The District Collector, Kanchipuram.

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R.Panneerselvam District Revenue Officer Kancheepuram.

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… Respondents

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Prayer : To permit the applicants to file Contempt Petition against the order of this Court dated 15.11.2019 in W.P.No.18725 of 2018 etc., batch.

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__________ Page 6 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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COMMON ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.)

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These contempt petitions have been instituted to punish the respondents for their wilful disobedience of the common judgment delivered by the Division Bench of this Court on 15.11.2019.

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The matter was taken by way of an appeal before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and the issues are decided by the Apex Court and thereafter a Contempt Petition Diary No.6415 of 2021 in S.L.P.(C) No.2886 of 2016 along with other contempt petitions were taken up by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and an order was passed on 09.05.2024. Paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of the said order reads as follows:

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“ 6. The order is also clear that the seniority lists / selection processes conducted prior to 10.03.2003 and the seniority as attained in the lists published by the TNPSC in those selection processes / seniority lists shall also stand frozen. It is only the selection processes / seniority lists which were conducted after 10.03.2003 which will have to be revisited in accordance with the directions issued by this Court vide order dated 18.04.2023.

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7. With these clarifications, all these petitions and applications pending before this Court shall stand disposed of.

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__________ Page 7 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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8. We clarify that if any of the parties has any individual

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grievance with regard to his/her seniority, such persons would be entitled to take recourse to their individual remedies, as are available in law.

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9. It is further clarified that since the revisions in the

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seniority lists have been effected by the State of Tamil Nadu in pursuance of the directions issued by this Court, such revisions will not enure any pecuniary benefits to such persons.”

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Learned counsel for the Contempt Petitioners would submit that the

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said order passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the above contempt petition is not connected. Be that as it may.

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Learned Additional Advocate General would submit that the order passed in W.P.No.18725 of 2018 etc., batch has been implemented by the competent authority and accordingly the names of the petitioners was included in the panel of Deputy Tahsildar in the year 2018 and all consequential benefits are also settled. That apart, merit seniority also has been issued in proceedings dated 13.07.2023.

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Thus, the petitioners have not established any wilful disobedience to punish the authority under the Contempt of Courts Act. The authorities have

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Page 8 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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passed an order granting notional promotion and fixation of seniority. The Supreme Court in the order stated above has also stated that if any individual grievance exists, the employee / officer may approach the competent authority for redressal.

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At the outset, the issues were decided commonly and if any individual has not been considered based on any other impediment like disqualification or otherwise, he / she may approach the authorities for redressal of their grievance. With the above observations, the Contempt Petition Nos. 2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 and Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 are closed. Contempt Petition DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022 are also closed at SR stage. Consequently, the connected Sub.Applications are also closed.

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(S.M.S.,J.) (N.S.,J.) 17-06-2026

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

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KST

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__________ Page 9 of 11

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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The Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu HRM Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-9.

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The Commissioner for Revenue Administration Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-5.

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The District Collector, Kanchipuram.

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The District Collector, Chengalpattu.

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The Principal Secretary, P & AR Department Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009.

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The District Collector, Coimbatore.

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The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission 3, Frezar Bridge Road, Chennai-3.

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District Revenue Officer Kancheepuram.

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__________ Page 10 of 11

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

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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S.M.SUBRAMANIAM J. AND N.SENTHILKUMAR J.

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KST

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Cont.P.Nos.2185 and 2168 of 2024, 1692 of 2021 Cont.P.No.164 of 2022 and Cont.P.DR.Nos. 103490 of 2023 and 19402 of 2022

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17-06-2026

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__________ Page 11 of 11

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

D.Vijayakuamr v. Mr. K.Nathakumar, I.A.S.

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

D.Vijayakuamr v. Mr. K.Nathakumar, I.A.S.

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

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