S.Nagapriya v. The District Collector, Chennai District

ORDER With consent on either side, the main Writ Petition itself is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage.

¶2This Writ Petition has been filed for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st Respondent to consider and pass orders on the representation dated 20.01.2026 under Section 14 of the National Trust Act, 1999, by appointing the petitioner as Legal Guardian / Nominated Representative of Mr.Mahesh Dakshnamoorthy for managing his person and property and consequently direct the concerned authorities to release all service-related and financial benefits.

¶3According to the petitioner, her husband, viz., Mahesh Dakshnamoorthy was employed as an HR Associate with Tata Consultancy Services, Chennai and had been in continuous service from the year 2008. While so, on 02.04.2022, the petitioner's husband suffered a major Acute Cerrebrovascular Accident (Stroke) involving right middle Cerebral artery Occlusion and had to undergo prolonged hospitalization and treatment. Thereafter, owing to serious cardiac complications, the petitioner's husband underwent Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery on 08.07.2022. Page3 of 5 Unfortunately, within a short span, on 13.07.2022, the petitioner suffered another major stroke, which resulted in severe neurological damage, loss of cognitive capacity and permanent functional impairment. Since then, the petitioner's husband undergoing continuous treatment and rehabilitation at various reputed medical institutions, as a result, the benefits due to him remain undistributed, causing severe financial hardship and directly affecting his ongoing treatment and rehabilitation, therefore, the petitioner, being a legally wedded wife to Mr.Mahesh Dakshnamoorthy submitted a representation dated 20.01.2026 to the respondents seeking to appoint the petitioner as a guardian for a person with disability. The said representation was acknowledged by the respondents, however, no action has been taken till date, hence the petitioner has come up with the present petition.

¶4The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the Section 14 of the National Trust Act, 1999 empowers the competent authority to appoint a guardian for a person with disability, who is unable to take care of himself or manage his property, thereby pleaded to allow the present petition.

¶5The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents would submit that the respondents are the appropriate authorities to consider the representation of the petitioner, thereby a direction and sufficient time may be granted to the respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner. Page4 of 5

¶6In view of the limited prayer sought for by the petitioner, without going into the merits of the case, this Court hereby directs the respondents to consider the petitioner's representation dated 20.01.2026 on merits and pass appropriate orders within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of copy of the order. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. 30-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order ssd To

¶1The District Collector, Chennai District (Chairperson, Local Level Committee for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Chennai District) Collectorate, M.Singaravelar Maaligai 4th Floor, 62 Rajaji Salai,Chennai 600001.

¶2The Chairperson National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Department of Empowerment of people with Disabilities New Delhi 110075. Page5 of 5

M.DHANDAPANI, J. ssd 30-03-2026

Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 30-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI S.Nagapriya W/o.Mahesh Dakshnamoorthy 154/17 33, N Block, Lotus Colony, Anna Nagar East, PO Chennai 600102. ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The District Collector, Chennai District (Chairperson, Local Level Committee for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple DisabilitiesChennai District) Collectorate, M.Singaravelar Maaligai 4th Floor, 62 Rajaji Salai, Chennai 600001. 2. The Chairperson National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Department of Empowerment of people with Disabilities, New Delhi 110075. ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st Respondent to consider and pass orders on the representation dated 20.01.2026 under Section 14 of the National Trust Act, 1999, by appointing the petitioner as Legal Guardian / Nominated Representative of Mr.Mahesh Dakshnamoorthy for managing his person and property and consequently direct the concerned authorities to release all service-related and financial benefits. Page2 of 5 For Petitioner(s): Mr.P.G.Thiyagu For Respondent(s): Mr.M.Rajendiran Additional Government Pleader