Madras High Court
WP(MD)/11447/2025 of Chellappa T Vs The District Collector / Ins on 6 October 2026
WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 06-10-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI
WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025
CNR:{HCMD010498512025}
AND
WMP(MD)NOS. 8479, 8480 & 14042 OF 2025
Chellappa T
S/o. Thamodharan,
Panchayat Secretary (Dismissed from Service),
Kathakinaru Panchayat,
Madurai East Panchayat Union,
Madurai District.
..Petitioner(s)
Vs
1. The District Collector / Inspector of Panchayat Madurai District, Madurai.
2. The Assistant Director of Rural Development (Panchayat)
Madurai District,
Madurai.
3. The Personal Assistant (Development) to the Collector Madurai District, Madurai.
4. The Special Officer/Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat)
Madurai East Panchayat Union,
Madurai District.
5. The President
Madurai East Panchayat Union,
Madurai District.
..Respondent(s)
WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025
PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned order in Na.Ka.No.4923/2015/Oo.Va.-8
dated 20.03.2025 passed by the 1st respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to reinstate the petitioner with continuity of service and disburse all the back wages.
For Petitioner(s):
Mr.P.R.Prithiviraj
For Respondent(s):
Mr.M.Mahaboob Athiff
Special Government Pleader
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ORDER
The petitioner was appointed as a Village Panchayat Assistant in the year 2000 and has been dismissed from service by the District Collector, Madurai/first respondent by the order impugned in this writ petition. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner has filed this writ petition.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, by referring to Rule 16 of the Tamil Nadu Village Panchayat Secretaries (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2023 [hereinafter referred to as ‘the Rules’], submits that the competent authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings against a Village Panchayat Assistant is the Block Development Officer. He further submits that, as per Rule 25 of the Rules, the District Collector is the revisional authority.
WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner also submits that the District Collector, Madurai District/first respondent, has not only dismissed the petitioner from service, but also three other similarly placed persons on the same ground. Those persons have approached this Court in W.P.(MD)Nos.9482 and 9483 of 2025 and W.P.(MD) No.9981 of 2025, wherein this Court, vide orders dated 10.09.2025 and 31.10.2025, respectively, allowed the writ petitions and set aside the orders of dismissal and remanded the matters for fresh consideration by the competent authority, namely, the Disciplinary Authority, Block Development Officer. He therefore submits that, in view of the orders of this Court in respect of similarly placed persons, the impugned order in this writ petition is also liable to be set aside and the writ petition deserves to be allowed.
4. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that, in view of the earlier orders passed by this Court in respect of similarly placed persons, this writ petition may also be disposed of on the same lines.
5. Considering the submissions made on either side, this writ petition stands allowed and the order impugned in this writ petition is set aside, with a direction to the Block Development Officer, Madurai East Panchayat Union/fourth respondent, to consider the matter afresh and conclude the enquiry in
WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025 accordance with the Rules, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Further, it is made clear that, in view of the earlier orders of this Court in W.P.(MD)Nos.9482 and 9483 of 2025, dated 10.09.2025, and W.P.(MD)No.9981 of 2025, dated 31.10.2025, the petitioner is not entitled to claim any benefit to function as a Village Panchayat Assistant pending the disciplinary proceedings. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 06-10-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No mbi
WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025 To
1. The District Collector / Inspector of Panchayat Madurai District, Madurai.
2. The Assistant Director of Rural Development (Panchayat) Madurai District, Madurai.
3. The Personal Assistant (Development) to the Collector Madurai District, Madurai.
4. The Special Officer/Block Development Officer (Village Panchayat) Madurai East Panchayat Union, Madurai District.
5. The President Kathakinaru Panchayat, Madurai East Panchayat Union, Madurai District.
WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025 B.PUGALENDHI, J. mbi WP(MD) No. 11447 of 2025 AND WMP(MD) Nos. 8479, 8480 & 14042 of 2025 06-10-2026