Ourland Engineering Works Pvt. Ltd v. The Tamilnadu Local Bodies Ombudsman

ORDER By consent of learned counsel on both sides, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

¶2The present writ petition is filed praying for a writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd Respondent to comply with the directions set out in the 1st Respondent's order dated 15.04.2026, based on the Petitioner's representation dated 27.04.2026.

¶3The Petitioner is a company engaged in solid waste management operations. Between 2019 and 2023, Petitioner entered into contracts with the 2nd Respondent for supply of manpower for solid waste management and allied activities. Pursuant to the work orders issued by the 2nd Respondent, the Petitioner supplied the required manpower and completed the assigned work. Though the 2nd Respondent released payments periodically during the execution of the work, it failed to release the final payment upon completion of the contract in 2023. A sum of Rs. 31,85,691/-, together with the EMD, Security Deposit and other refundable amounts remains unpaid despite repeated requests. The 2nd Respondent initially cited the non-submission of EPF and ESI records, although the same had already been furnished by the Petitioner. Page3 of 6

¶4Aggrieved by the inaction of the 2nd Respondent, Petitioner lodged a complaint before the 1st Respondent under the Tamil Nadu Local Bodies Ombudsman Act, 2014. During the proceedings, the 2nd Respondent acknowledged that the EPF and ESI records had been verified and undertook to release the outstanding amount, including the EMD and Security Deposit, within a period of one month. Recording the said undertaking, the 1st Respondent, by order dated 15.04.2026, directed the 2nd Respondent to release the outstanding dues within a period of one month. The relevant portion of the order is extracted hereunder: "இந்நே ர்வில்> ஒசூர் மாநகராட்சியில் மனுதாரரின் Our Land Engineering Works Pvt.Ltd-க்கு மாநகராட்சியால் பிடித்தம் செ ய்யப்பட்ட தொ கை யினை , மனுதாரர் சமர்ப்பித்துள்ள ESI மற்றும் EPF தொ டர்பான விவரங்களை ஒசூர் மாநகராட்சியில்

உள்ள

வருகை

பதிவே ட்டோ டு சரிபார்க்கப்பட்டு அவருக்கு நிலுவை த் தொ கை ஒரு மாதத்திற்குள் வழங்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்றும், மனுதாரருக்கு வழங்கப்பட வே ண்டிய EMD மற்றும் Security Deposit தொ கை யான ரூ.12,60,025/-ஐ வழங்குவதற்கும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என்றும் ஒசூர் மாநகராட்சி மாநகர நல அலுவலர் தன்னுடை ய வாக்குமூலத்தில் தெ ரிவித்தவாறு. ஒப்பந்தப் பணிக்கான மீதமுள்ள தொ கை

மற்றும் EMD மற்றும் Security Deposit விதிமுறை களுக்கு உட்பட்டு ஒரு மாதத்திற்குள் மனுதாரருக்கு வழங்கிட ஓசூர் மாநகராட்சி ஆணை யருக்கு அம்முறை மன்ற நடுவம் பரிந்துரை செ ய்து ஆணை யிடுகிறது. Page4 of 6 2026 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் திங்கள் 15-ஆம் நாள் என்னால் கை யொ ப்பமிடப்பட்டு

அலுவலக

முத்திரையுடன் இவ்வாணை வெ ளியிடப்படுகிறது." However, despite the said order and the Petitioner's representations dated

27.04.2026 and 14.05.2026, the 2nd Respondent has failed to comply with the directions. Hence, the present writ petition is filed.

¶5Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the order dated

15.04.2026 has attained finality, as it has not been challenged by the 2nd Respondent before any competent forum. The continued withholding of the outstanding amount, including the EMD and Security Deposit, for nearly three years is arbitrary and illegal and has caused severe financial hardship to the Petitioner.

¶6To which, learned counsel for the respondents would submit that they would consider the petitioner's representation dated 27.04.2026 and pass appropriate orders ensuring that the outstanding dues are paid within a time period stipulated by this Court. Agreed to by the learned counsel for the petitioner.

¶7Having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respondents, this Court is inclined to dispose of the writ petition by directing the Page5 of 6 second respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 27.04.2026 on its own merits and pass appropriate orders, ensuring that the outstanding dues are paid within a period of twelve weeks from the date of uploading of web copy of this order, without waiting for receipt of a certified copy thereof, keeping in view the undertaking given before the 1st respondent /Ombudsman, as recorded in the order dated 15.04.2026, after affording a reasonable opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and any other interested persons, in accordance with law.

¶8Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of. No costs. 28-07-2026 SHK Page6 of 6

MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J. SHK To

¶1The Tamilnadu Local Bodies Ombudsman No.100, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai-600 017

¶2The Commissioner Hosur City Municipal Corporation, Hosur, 635 109. 28-07-2026

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 28-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ Ourland Engineering Works Pvt. Ltd. Represented by its Director, Mr. P.S. Sivaguru, 3rd Floor, Atandra Towers, 25, Thirumalai Road, T.Nagar, Chennai-600 017 ..Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The Tamilnadu Local Bodies Ombudsman No.100, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai-600 017 2. The Commissioner Hosur City Municipal Corporation, Hosur, 635 109 ..Respondent(s) Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for the issuance of writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd Respondent to comply with the directions of the 1st Respondent's order dated 15.04.2026 based on the Petitioner's representation dated 27.04.2026 within a reasonable time frame fixed by this Court. For Petitioner(s): M/S. S.Sandhya For Respondent(s): Mr.J.V.Sakthi Baalakrishnan, Government Counsel for R1 Mr.T.Balaji, Standing Counsel for R2 Page2 of 6