An Overseer challenged rejection of his representation for promotion to Assistant Engineer. Relying on the Sanjos Jewellers Full Bench decision on forum conveniens, the Court held the petitioner's workplace falls within the Principal Seat's jurisdiction and closed the writ petition with liberty to approach the Principal Seat.
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WP.(MD)No.1792 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 27.01.2026
CORAM :
THE HON`BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI
WP.(MD)No.1792 of 2026 and WMP.(MD)No.1422 of 2026
R.Saravanan
... Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai-9.
2.The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-28. ... Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order in Na.Ka.No.27262/2024/F2 dated 08.12.2025 on the file of the second respondent and quash the same as illegal and consequently directing the respondents to provide the promotion to the post of Assistant Engineer from the post of Overseer based
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on his qualification of B.E. Degree and 10 years of working experience in the light of the similarly persons promotion order in Na.Ka.No32814/2019/F-1 dated 11.07.2025 order passed by the second respondent and as per the similar order in WP.No.5386 of 2021 dated 07.03.2024 by giving notional effect from the date of promoting juniors with monetary benefits within the time stipulated by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.I.Pinaygash For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, Special Government Pleader.
ORDER
The petitioner, who is working as an Overseer at
Viruthachalam Municipality, has filed this writ petition challenging the order passed by the second respondent dated 08.12.2025.
2.The petitioner with a grievance that promotional
opportunity has not been provided to him, has submitted a
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representation and has also filed a writ petition before this Court
in WP.(MD)No.22305 of 2025. This Court by its order dated 14.08.2025 has disposed of the said writ petition with a direction to consider the petitioner’s representation. The representation of the petitioner has been rejected by the order impugned in this writ petition and the same is challenged in this writ petition.
3.The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents raises preliminary objection as to the maintainability of this writ petition, which is filed by an employee, who is working at Viruthachalam Municipality, before the Madurai Bench. He has also referred to the decision of Full Bench of this Court in Sanjos Jewellers Vs. Syndicate Bank, Bangalore and Others reported in 2007 (5) CTC 305 , wherein this Court has held as under:-
"30. We must, however, remind ourselves that even if a small part of cause of action arises within the territorial jurisdiction of the High Court, the same by itself may not be considered to be a determinative factor
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compelling the High Court to decide the matter on merit. In appropriate cases, the Court may refuse to exercise its discretionary jurisdiction by invoking the Doctrine of forum conveniens.”
4.This Court has considered the submissions made on either side and perused the materials available in the record.
5.The petitioner is working in Viruthachalam Municipality, which comes within the jurisdiction of the Principal Seat. Therefore, this writ petition is closed with a liberty to the petitioner to pursue his remedy before the Principal Seat. No costs. Consequently connected miscellaneous petition is closed.
27.01.2026
NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet:Yes gns
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To
1.The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai-9.
2.The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-28.
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B.PUGALENDHI,J
gns
WP.(MD)No.1792 of 2026
27.01.2026
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1 issue framed by the court
Whether a writ petition by an employee working at Viruthachalam Municipality, within the Principal Seat's jurisdiction, is maintainable before the Madurai Bench.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Sanjos Jewellers Vs. Syndicate Bank, Bangalore and OthersRelied on¶3
2007 (5) CTC 305
1 provisions across 1 enactments
R.Saravanan
The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, Secretariat, Chennai-9
The Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-28
B.PUGALENDHI
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
