Disposed¶18

S.Gopi, v. Dr.K.Gopal, I.a.S., and another

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 – Sections 11, 20 – Limitation

Madras HC5 Jun 2026CONT P/364/2025

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What is this about?

Madras High Court, CONT P No. 364 of 2025, decided 05-06-2026 by T. Vinod Kumar J — contempt petition closed as not surviving in view of the one-year limitation under Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971; alleged wilful disobedience of order dated 14.06.2022 in W.P.No.10716 of 2018; follows this Court's order dated 28.11.2025 in Cont.P.Nos.2599 and 3033 of 2025 relying on S.Tirupathi Rao v. M.Lingamaiah, 2024 SCC OnLine 1764; petitioner granted liberty to pursue other remedies; Nalini Chidambaram, Senior Advocate for petitioner; Y.Kavitha, Additional Government Pleader for contemnors.

What did the court decide?

Liberty to the petitioner to work out remedies open to him in law/in accordance with law ¶18

S.Gopi, Vs Dr.K.Gopal, I.a.S., and another — Contempt of Court | Madras HC (2026)

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CONT P No. 364 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 05-06-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE T. VINOD KUMAR CONT P No.364 of 2025

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S.Gopi, S/o. T.Sundaresan, No. 79 (AL-1), GCT Staff Quarters, Thadagam Road, Coimbatore 641 013.

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..Petitioner(s)

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1.Dr.K.Gopal, I.A.S., and another Principal Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Deparment, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009. 2.T.Abraham, I.A.S., Commissioner, The Directorate of Technical Education, No. 53, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai 600 025.

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..Contemnor(s)

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Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to punish the respondents for wilful disobedience of the order dated 14.06.2022 passed by this Court in W.P.No.10716 of 2018.

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For Petitioner(s): Mrs.Nalini Chidambaram, Senior Advocate for Mrs.C.Uma For Contemnor(s): Mrs.Y.Kavitha Additional Government Pleader

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

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CONT P No. 364 of 2025

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ORDER

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When the contempt petition is taken up for hearing, this Court brought the notice of the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner the order of this Court dated 28.11.2025 passed in Contempt Petition Nos.2599 and 3033 of 2025, wherein, this Court, after referring to the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in S.Tirupathi Rao V.M.Lingamaiah and others reported in 2024 SCC online 1764 , had held that the contempt petition has to be filed within a period of one year from the alleged date of contempt as per Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

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The learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner fairly submits that in view of the above the present contempt petition may not survive for consideration.

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In such view of the matter, this contempt petition is closed. The petitioner

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is at liberty to work out remedies open to him in law/in accordance with law.

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05-06-2026

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

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nsd

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