N. Geetha Lakshmi v. The Government of Tamil Nadu

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 10-06-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR WA No. 1292 of 2026 and WA NO. 1324 OF 2026,WA NO. 1319 OF 2026,WA NO. 1322 OF 2026,WA NO. 1306 OF 2026,WA NO. 1321 OF 2026,WA NO. 1269 OF 2026,WA NO. 1275 OF 2026,WA NO. 1273 OF 2026,WA NO. 1305 OF 2026,WA NO. 1320 OF 2026,WA NO. 1318 OF 2026,WA NO. 1308 OF 2026,WA NO. 1310 OF 2026,WA NO. 1299 OF 2026,WA NO. 1301 OF 2026,WA NO. 1298 OF 2026,WA NO. 1290 OF 2026,WA NO. 1288 OF 2026 WA No. 1292 of 2026: N. Geetha Lakshmi ..Appellant(s) Vs

¶1The Government of Tamil Nadu Rep By Additional Chief Secretary To Government, Rural Development And Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶2The Director Of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Chennai-600 015

¶3The District Collector Dharmapuri District,

¶4The Project Director Cum Member Secretary Dharmapuri District Socio Economic Development Society,

¶5The Secretary Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, TNPSC Road, Page2 of 6 Park Town, Chennai ..Respondent(s) Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent issuing writ of certiorari mandamus to set aside the order passed in W.P.No.2642 of 2025 dated

11.11.2025 and allow the same. In all cases In all Writ Appeals For Appellant(s): Mr.R.Syed Mustafa & Mr.T.Sundaravadanam for M/s.B.Saravanan Associates For Respondent(s): Dr.R.Gouri, Government Counsel for R1 to R4 COMMON JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The issues involved in the batch of intra-court appeals are one and the same. Thus, writ appeals are taken up together and a common order is passed.

¶2Writ petitioners are appellants. Challenging the order of rejection, dated 23.08.2024 rejecting the claim of the appellants for regularisation and absorption of their services in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, the appellants preferred writ proceedings.

¶3It is not in dispute that the company designated as Dharmapuri District Development Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as "DDDCL"), registered under the Companies Act, 1956 and owned by the Page3 of 6 Government, was ordered to be wound up. A policy decision was taken to absorb the employees of DDDCL into the Government department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj in a phased manner. As far as writ appellants herein are concerned, proposals were submitted to the Government department for their absorption. In this regard, Government issued G.O.Ms.No.61, Rural Development (SGSY) Department, dated

06.06.2003, formed Dharmapuri District Socio-economic Development Society for absorption of erstwhile employees of DDDCL either in the newly formed Society or in the Rural Development Department. In view of the decision, proposals were also placed before the department. However, the proposals were not materialized, in view of the fact that these employees of the Government-owned company that was wound up could not be accommodated in certain posts for which concurrence of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission is required. Pertinently, all the appellants herein attained the age of superannuation and retired from service. Therefore, there is no scope for absorbing them in the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. When writ appellants have already crossed the age of superannuation and received financial settlements for their services rendered in the Government-owned company, now they cannot claim regularisation or absorption in any other department as a matter of right.

¶4It is not in dispute that terminal benefits due to the appellants were settled by the Corporation for the services rendered by them in the company. Page4 of 6 Absorption of these appellants in the Government department is a concession given, and it could not be materialised, in view of the fact that appellants have already attained the age of superannuation. Therefore, decision arrived by the Writ Court is in consonance with the principles and there is no infirmity in the order passed.

¶5Accordingly, the writ appeals are dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions, if any, are closed. (S.M.S.,J.) (N.S.,J.) 10-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order GD Note: Registry is directed to type the remaining cause titles. To

¶1The Government of Tamil Nadu Rep By Additional Chief Secretary To Government, Rural Development And Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009

¶2The Director Of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Chennai-600 015

¶3The District Collector Dharmapuri District,

¶4The Project Director Cum Member Secretary Dharmapuri District Socio Economic Page5 of 6 Development Society,

¶5The Secretary Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, TNPSC Road, Park Town, Chennai Page6 of 6

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND

N.SENTHILKUMAR, J. GD 10-06-2026