Dismissed¶27

B.Barathivarman v. the Secretary to Government

Madras HC2 Jan 2026WP/49826/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Mandamus; Article 226; MGNREGA; Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005; irregularity allegation solely based on newspaper report; hasty filing without proper research or necessary information; Thaiyur Village Panchayat President Thirumurugan; Villupuram District; representation dated 03.10.2024; reminder dated 30.06.2025; writ petition dismissed; no costs; liberty to file afresh with requisite material; Madras High Court; Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava; G.Arul Murugan.

What did the court decide?

No relief granted; liberty preserved for the petitioner to file an appropriate petition with requisite material; no order as to costs. ¶27

B.Barathivarman Vs the Secretary to Government — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No relief granted; liberty preserved for the petitioner to file an appropriate petition with requisite material; no order as to costs.

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Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing the official respondents to take action against the fifth respondent for irregularities in the MGNREGA project work on the basis of the petitioner's representation, where the allegation rests solely on a newspaper report.

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Court's answer

The allegation of irregularity against the fifth respondent, as raised in the petition, is solely based on a newspaper report.

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Ratio / Principle

The petition was hastily filed, without conducting proper research and collecting necessary information, and was therefore dismissed.

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Key takeaways

The dismissal does not preclude the petitioner from filing an appropriate petition with requisite material; no order as to costs.ratio¶27

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Judicature at Madras (Division Bench: Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, Chief Justice and G.Arul Murugan, J.; order made by the Chief Justice) dismissed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in W.P.No.49826 of 2025, dated 02.01.2026. The petition, filed by B.Barathivarman, sought a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to take suitable action against persons allegedly erring in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 project work, on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 03.10.2024 followed by a reminder dated 30.06.2025, and to dispose of the representation on merits. The fifth respondent is Thirumurugan, President of Thaiyur Village Panchayat. The Court held that the allegation of irregularity against the fifth respondent was solely based on a newspaper report and that, without conducting proper research and collecting necessary information, the petition had been hastily filed. The writ petition was accordingly dismissed, with no order as to costs, while reserving the petitioner's liberty to file an appropriate petition with requisite material.

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W.P.No.49826 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 02.01.2026

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CORAM :

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THE HONOURABLE MR. MANINDRA MOHAN SHRIVASTAVA, CHIEF JUSTICE

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AND

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN

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WP No.49826 of 2025

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B.Barathivarman Son of Bakthavatchalam, Keezha Veethi, Thaiyur Village and Post, Gingee Taluk - 604205, Villupuram District.

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Petitioner(s)

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The Secretary to Government Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat, St. George Fort, Chennai - 600009.

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The District Collector Villupuram District, Villupuram - 605402.

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The Assistant Director (Panchayats) Villupuram - 605402.

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The Block Development Officer Panchayat Council, Vallam, Gingee Taluk, Villupuram District.

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Page 1 of 4

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

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W.P.No.49826 of 2025

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Thirumurugan President, Thaiyur Village Panchayat, Thaiyur Village and Post, Gingee Taluk, Villupuram District - 604206.

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Respondent(s)

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PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to take suitable act against the erred persons involved in the Project of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 work on the basis of the petitioner’s representation dated 03.10.2024 followed by reminder dated 30.06.2025 and dispose of the same on merits and in accordance with law.

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For Petitioner(s): Mr.M.Gnanasekar

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For Respondent(s):Mr.K.Karthik Jagannath Government Advocate for R1 to R4

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice)

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Allegation of irregularity against fifth respondent, as raised in this petition, is solely based on newspaper report. Without conducting proper research and collecting necessary information, this petition has been hastily filed.

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