P.Narayanan v. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government,

ORDER This Writ Petition has been filed for the following reliefs:- "directing the 1st respondent in the level of the respected additional chief secretary to government to conduct the enquiry against the regional joint director of local fund, audit department and the superintendent, regional director of local fund audit department verify the facts and circumstance of the audit paras and the validity of the audit paras with a reference to deviation of the provisions of the rules verify the facts and drop all audit objections/audit paras and permit the petitioner to retire from service and settle all his retirement benefits on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated

22.05.2026 and to complete the enquiry within a time frame may be fixed by this Hon'ble Court and to pass any other order or direction as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit." Brief Facts:-

¶2The petitioner joined Government service on 29.06.1990 and is presently serving as the Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Vellore Region, under the first respondent. He is due to retire from service on

30.06.2026 on attaining the age of superannuation. During his service, he was deputed to various Municipalities, including Kancheepuram, Avadi, Page4 of 8 Thirupattur, Mettur, Gudalur, and Koothanallur. In the course of such service, certain audit objections were raised by the Local Fund Audit Department, which are required to be resolved before his retirement.

¶3Aggrieved by the pendency of the audit objections, the petitioner had filed several writ petitions seeking consideration and dropping of the audit paras/audit objections relating to the aforesaid Municipalities. By a common order dated 28.07.2025, this Court had directed the respondents to consider the audit objections and pass appropriate orders within a period of eight weeks. However, the said directions have not been complied with, thereby constraining the petitioner to initiate contempt proceedings against the concerned respondents, which are still pending.

¶4The petitioner would submit that the Government of Tamil Nadu, by G.O.Ms.No.156 dated 15.09.2023 and earlier by G.O.Ms.No.54, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, dated 03.03.2009, constituted High-Level Committees at the District and State levels for consideration and settlement of audit objections relating to Municipal Administration employees. Though the State Level Committee has considered the cases of employees who were due to retire during March, April and May 2026, the petitioner's case has not been placed before the said Committee for consideration, despite the fact Page5 of 8 that he is due to retire on 30.06.2026.

¶5The petitioner would further submit that the authorities concerned have been rejecting his explanations to the audit objections without assigning reasons or passing speaking orders. In these circumstances, the petitioner submitted representations dated 14.05.2026 and 24.05.2026 requesting the respondents to constitute a High Level Committee and consider the audit objections pending against him. The petitioner had also issued a legal notice dated 24.05.2026 in this regard. As no action has been taken on his representations, the petitioner is before this Court

¶6Heard the learned counsel on either side.

¶7The respondents are already in contempt of earlier orders of this Court in WP.Nos.27525, 34031, 27341, 27528 & 27523 of 2025 for which Contempt Petition Nos.393, 415, 374, 437 & 652 of 2026 are already pending. Therefore, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's representation dated

22.05.2026, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The first respondent shall report compliance to this Court within one week thereafter, failing which contempt Page6 of 8 proceedings shall be initiated against the first respondent, who is already in breach of the earlier order. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. 09-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order SHR Page7 of 8 To

¶1The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, municipal administration and water supply (ME-2) Department, secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

¶2The Director of municipal administration, no.75, Santhome high road, MRC Nagar, R.A.Puram, Chennai - 600028.

¶3The Secretary to Government, Finance Department, secretariat, Chennai - 600009.

¶4The Special Director of Local Fund Audit, no.571, officers building, veterinary hospital campus, opposite MC Raja hostel, Anna salai, Nandanam, Chennai - 600035.

¶5The Regional Joint Director of Local Fund Department, Chengalpattu region, Maraimalainagar - 603209.

¶6The District Collector Thiruvallur District, Thiruvallur.

¶7The District Collector Kancheepuram District, Kancheepuram.

¶8The Commissioner, Avadi corporation, N.M.Road, Avadi - 600054.

¶9The Commissioner Kancheepuram corporation, Government Hospital Road, Kancheepuram - 631502.

10.The Superintendent, Regional Director Local Fund Audit, Chengalpattu Region, no.1, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengalpattu District. WPoNo.o21340oofo2026 P.T.ASHAoJ. SHR WPoNo.o21340oofo2026 AND WMPoNO.o23092oOFo2026,WMPoNO.o23095oOFo2026 09-06-2026 Page8oofo8

Page1 of 8 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 09-06-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA AND WMP NO. 23092 OF 2026,WMP NO. 23095 OF 2026 P.Narayanan ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, municipal administration and water supply (ME-2) Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600009. 2. The Director of municipal administration, no.75, Santhome high road, MRC Nagar, R.A.Puram, Chennai - 600028. 3. The Secretary to Government, Finance Department, secretariat, Chennai - 600009. 4. The Special Director of Local Fund Audit, no.571, officers building, veterinary hospital campus, opposite MC Raja hostel, Anna salai, Nandanam, Chennai - 600035. 5. The Regional Joint Director of Local Fund Department, Chengalpattu region, Maraimalainagar - 603209. 6. The District Collector Thiruvallur District, Thiruvallur. 7. The District Collector Kancheepuram District, Kancheepuram. Page2 of 8 8. The Commissioner, Avadi corporation, N.M.Road, Avadi - 600054. 9. The Commissioner Kancheepuram corporation, Government Hospital Road, kancheepuram - 631502. 10.The Superintendent, Regional Director Local Fund Audit, Chengalpattu Region, no.1, Maraimalai nagar, Chengalpattu District. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent in the level of the respected additional chief secretary to government to conduct the enquiry against the regional joint director of local fund, audit department and the superintendent, regional director of local fund audit department verify the facts and circumstance of the audit paras and the validity of the audit paras with a reference to deviation of the provisions of the rules verify the facts and drop all audit objections/audit paras and permit the petitioner to retire from service and settle all his retirement benefits on the basis of the petitioners representation dated 22.05.2026 and to complete the enquiry within a time frame may be fixed by this Hon'ble Court and to pass any other order or direction as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit. For Petitioner(s): Mr.R.Singaravelan, Senior Counsel for Mr.M.Gnanasekar For Respondent(s): Mr.AR.Balaji, GA for R.1 to R.7 & R.10. Page3 of 8