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A.Venkatesan v. The Secretary to Government

Madras HC14 May 2026WP/19494/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court 14.05.2026 (L. Victoria Gowri J.) disposes W.P.No.19494 of 2026 (connected W.M.P.No.19157 of 2026): paddy procurement digital token system transparency, seniority-based token registration, illegal extortion/harassment of farmers by touts and middlemen at Direct Purchase Centres (Rettaimangalam, Kanchipuram), police deployment and CCTV cameras sought, representation dated 25.09.2025 not received by DVAC/SP, fresh representation to be disposed of within two weeks; statute: Article 226 Constitution of India; no precedents cited; no costs.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition disposed of with directions: petitioner may file a fresh representation (in person and by registered post with acknowledgment due), which the respondents must consider and dispose of within two weeks of receipt, in accordance with law; no costs awarded.

A.Venkatesan Vs The Secretary to Government — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner's representation dated 25.09.2025 concerning police deployment against extortion at the DPC and CCTV installation had been received/acted upon by the authorities (respondents 7 and 8 reported non-receipt). +1 more

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Court's answer

Since respondents 7 and 8 stated that they had not received the petitioner's earlier representation, liberty is given to the petitioner to make a fresh representation both in person and through registered post with acknowledgment due.

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Ratio / Principle

On receipt of the fresh representation, the respondent is to consider it and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law; in view of the seriousness of the petitioner's submissions, the respondents are to dispose of the representation within two weeks of its receipt.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

MADRAS HC | 14.05.2026 | Single judge: L. Victoria Gowri, J. | W.P.No.19494 of 2026 | A.Venkatesan (farmer) v. Secretary to Government (Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Dept.), officials of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, District Collector Kancheepuram, Purchase Officer, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, and SP Kanchipuram. Petitioner sought, under Article 226, a Writ of Mandamus to remove/redesign the digital token system for paddy procurement at Direct Purchase Centres (seniority-based online registration by farmers), police deployment at the Rettaimangalam DPC to stop extortion by touts/middlemen/agents harassing farmers, and CCTV installation at DPCs across Tamil Nadu. His representation dated 25.09.2025 had not been considered; counsel for respondents 7 and 8 stated it was never received. Court DISPOSED OF the petition: liberty to file a fresh representation (in person and by RPAD), to be considered and disposed of within two weeks of receipt in accordance with law, the two-week direction being stressed given the seriousness of the submissions; no costs. No cases cited; no monetary award.

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W.P.No.19494 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 14.05.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI

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W.P.No.19494 of 2026

A.Venkatesan

... Petitioner

Vs.

1 The Secretary to Government,

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Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department,

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Secretariat,

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Chennai – 600 009.

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2 The Chairman and Principal Secretary to Government, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, CMRL Admin Building,

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Koyambedu,

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Chennai – 600 107.

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3 The Chairman cum Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, No.12, Thambusamy Road, Kilpauk, Chennai – 600 010.

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4 The District Collector

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Kancheepuram District,

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Kancheepuram – 631 501.

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5 The Regional Manager (Kanchipuram) Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, Vandavasi Road,

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Pallavan Nagar,

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Housing Board,

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Kanchipuram – 631 501.

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1/7

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

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W.P.No.19494 of 2026

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6 Purchase Officer,

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Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Vandavasi Road,

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Pallavan Nagar,

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Housing Board,

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Kanchipuram – 631 501.

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7 Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption,

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No.293, MKN Road, Alandur,

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Chennai – 600 016.

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8 The Superintendent of Police, Kanchipuram District, Kanchipuram – 631 501.

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... Respondents

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Prayer:

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Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 3 to remove the current flawed digital token system under the direct login IDs of the DPCs since it is non-transparent and seniority not accessible to the farmers, to redesign the Tamil Nadu Government E-portal for Paddy allowing the farmers themselves to login in their own IDs from wherever they are for online registration of tokens for paddy procurement on seniority basis by Direct Purchase Centres in Tamilnadu, to deploy police particularly in the DPC Centre at Rettaimangalam to strictly prohibit the interference of touts, middlemen, agents, villagers from engaging in harassing the farmers for illegal extortion of money from the farmers approaching their DPC to market their produce and threatening them with dire consequences, to install CCTV cameras in and around the DPC throughout the State of

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

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W.P.No.19494 of 2026

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Tamil Nadu to ensure safety and security around the DPC and also to the farmers.

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For Petitioner : Ms.RK.Sekina Reshma For Respondents : Mr.M.Murali for R1 to R4 Government Advocate Mr.S.Sugenthiran for R7 and R8

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O R D E R

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Seeking to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to remove the

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current flawed digital token system under the direct login IDs of the DPCs since it is non-transparent and seniority not accessible to the farmers, to redesign the Tamil Nadu Government E-portal for Paddy allowing the farmers themselves to login in their own IDs from wherever they are for online registration of tokens for paddy procurement on seniority basis by Direct Purchase Centres in Tamilnadu, to deploy police particularly in the DPC Centre at Rettaimangalam to strictly prohibit the interference of touts, middlemen, agents, villagers from engaging in harassing the farmers for illegal extortion of money from the farmers approaching their DPC to market their produce and threatening them with dire consequences, to install CCTV cameras in and around the DPC throughout the State of Tamil Nadu to ensure safety and security around the DPC and also to the farmers, this writ petition has been filed.

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

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W.P.No.19494 of 2026

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2.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that paddy procurement season is ongoing and the petitioner and other farmers are seriously harassed for illegal extortion of money. It is utmost necessary to deploy Police in and around the DPC to strictly prohibit the interference of touts, middlemen, agents, villagers from engaging in harassing the farmers and serious indulgence has to be given for installation of CCTV cameras. In this regard, the petitioner made representation dated 25.09.2025, however, the same has not yet been considered.

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3.The learned counsel appearing for the respondents 7 and 8 submitted that such representation has not seen the light of the day and that the respondents 7 and 8 have not received any such representation.

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4.In view of the submission made by the learned counsel appearing for the respondents 7 and 8, liberty is given to the petitioner to make fresh representation both in person as well as through registered post with acknowledgment due. On receipt of the said representation, this Court directs the respondent to consider the

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

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W.P.No.19494 of 2026

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same and pass appropriate orders, in accordance with law, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the petitioner’s representation. In view of the seriousness of the submission made by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, it is made clear that the respondents should dispose of the petitioner’s representation within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the petitioner’s representation.

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