Vaishnavi Chidambaranathan v. The Greater Chennai Corporation

ORDER Aggrieved over the termination of contract with immediate effect; when the contract has specified 15 days' in writing before termination, the petitioner has preferred this writ petition.

¶2It is the case of the petitioner that she was appointed as ''Policy Subject Matter Expert'' for the gender and policy lab as a part of the Chennai City Parnership (CCP) Program between world bank and Government of Tamil Nadu, for a period of one year which is extendable upto three years but shall not be extendable beyond 5 years. The petitioner was initially appointed on 10.01.2022. Her contract was periodically extended. While so, on 31.07.2025, the second respondent issued an order dated 31.07.2025 terminating the contract of the petitioner with immediate effect. According to the petitioner, the contract specifies 15 days advance notice in writing by either side. Without ad-hearing the terms of the contract, the second respondent has passed a non-speaking order terminating her contract with immediate effect. The petitioner has sent a legal notice to the respondents in this regard. Since there was no response from the second respondent, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition seeking monetary compensation for a sum of Rs.11,34,410/-

¶3On a perusal of the contract and the typed set of papers, it shows that her services can be terminated by giving fifteen days notice in writing from either side. The termination will be without prejudice to either party's rights accrued before termination.

¶4As rightly averred by the petitioner, the respondent has not given 15 days notice; rather, terminated the contract with immediate effect. However, this Court cannot entertain the writ petition and direct payment of monetary compensation running to several lakhs. There is absolutely no case for quantifying the compensation.

¶5In the result, the writ petition is dismissed. However, giving liberty to the petitioner to seek appropriate relief before an appropriate forum. In that event, all contentions are kept open. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 23-02-2026 rli Index:Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Internet:Yes M.DHANDAPANI J. rli To

1.The Greater chennai corporation Rep by its commissioner Ripon Buildings, chennai-600 003

2.The Superintending Engineer Special Projects Department Greater Chennai Corporation Ripon Buildings, Chennai-600 003 23-02-2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 23-02-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI and WMP No. 7002 of 2026 Vaishnavi Chidambaranathan Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Greater chennai corporation Rep by its commissioner Ripon Buildings, chennai-600 003 2.The Superintending Engineer Special Projects Department Greater Chennai Corporation Ripon Buildings, Chennai-600 003 Respondent(s) PRAYER; This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorari Mandamus, calling for the records pertaining to the termination order SPPC NO.A1/0330/2022 dated 31.7.2025 passed by the 2nd respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to grant appropriate relief including payment of monetary compensation in lieu of reinstatement, quantified at Rs.11,31,410/- (Rupees Eleven Lakh Thirty one thousand four hundred and ten only). For Petitioner(s): Mr.K.Rahavan For Respondent: Mr.P.Dinesh kumar