Koottalumoodu Arulmigu Bhadeswari Devasthanam Matric Higher Secondary School v. E.S.I.Corporation, Rep by Its Deputy Director,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 27/01/2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K. SURENDER and W.M.P(MD) Nos.1049, 1050, 1058, 1059, 1051 and 1053 of 2026 WP(MD)No.1331 of 2026 Koottalumoodu Arulmigu Bhadeswari Devasthanam Matric Higher Secondary School, Rep by its Secretary, Raja Kumar, S/o.Chinna Nadar, P.C.N.Compound, Mukkadu, Painkulam Post, Killiyur Taluk, Kanayakumari District 629 173. ... Petitioner

Vs

¶1E.S.I.Corporation, Rep by its Deputy Director, Sub Regional Office (Tirunelveli), Salai Street, Vannarpettai, Tirunelveli - 627 003.

¶2Recovery Officer, E.S.I.Corporation, Sub Regional Office (Tirunelveli), Salai Street, Vannarpettai, Tirunelveli - 627 003.

3.The Branch Manager, State Bank of India, P.B.No1, Bus Stand Junction, Thengapattanam P.O, Kanyakumari District 629173. ... Respondents

PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, call for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the first respondent No. 66000404460001302/INS/SRO/TLI (Ref. C18 Act Line No.211/23) dated 26.11.2023 and the consequently impugned Garnishee order passed by the second respondent in No.66000404460001302/RRC/SRO/TLI dated 28.08.2025 and quash the same as illegal .

For Petitioner : Mr.N.S.Ramakrishna Dass,

Advocate

For R1 and R2 : Mr.C.Karthick Standing Counsel For R3 : Mr.M.Ponniah Standing Counsel WP(MD)No.1332 of 2026 Koottalumoodu Arulmigu Bhadeswari Devasthanam Matric Higher Secondary School, Rep by its Secretary, Raja Kumar, S/o.Chinna Nadar, P.C.N.Compound, Mukkadu, Painkulam Post, Killiyur Taluk, Kanayakumari District 629 173. ... Petitioner

Vs

¶1E.S.I.Corporation, Rep by its Deputy Director, Sub Regional Office (Tirunelveli), Salai Street, Vannarpettai, Tirunelveli - 627 003.

¶2Recovery Officer,, E.S.I.Corporation, Sub Regional Office (Tirunelveli), Salai Street, Vannarpettai, Tirunelveli - 627 003.

3.The Branch Manager, Tamilnadu Mercantile Bank Ltd., Door No.13/167G, Thottam Puraidam, Kappukadu, Kanyakumari District-629 162. ... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, call for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the first respondent No. 66000404460001302/INS/SRO/TLI (Ref. C18 Act Line No.211/23) dated 26.11.2023 and the consequently impugned Garnishee order passed by the second respondent in No.66000404460001302/RRC/SRO/TLI dated 28.08.2025 and quash the same as illegal .

For Petitioner : Mr.N.S.Ramakrishna Dass,

For R1 and R2 : Mr.C.Karthick Standing Counsel WP(MD)No.1333 of 2026 Koottalumoodu Arulmigu Bhadeswari Devasthanam Matric Higher Secondary School, Rep by its Secretary, Raja Kumar, S/o.Chinna Nadar, P.C.N.Compound, Mukkadu, Painkulam Post, Killiyur Taluk, Kanayakumari District 629 173. ... Petitioner

Vs

¶1E.S.I.Corporation, Rep by its Deputy Director, Sub Regional Office (Tirunelveli), Salai Street, Vannarpettai, Tirunelveli - 627 003.

¶2Recovery Officer,, E.S.I.Corporation, Sub Regional Office (Tirunelveli), Salai Street, Vannarpettai, Tirunelveli - 627 003.

3.The Branch Manager, Canara Bank, Kavalam Building, National Highway, Kuzhithurai-629 163, Kanyakumari District. ... Respondents PRAYER :- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, call for the records relating to the impugned order passed by the first respondent No. 66000404460001302/INS/SRO/TLI (Ref. C18 Act Line No.211/23) dated 26.11.2023 and the consequently impugned Garnishee order passed by the second respondent in No.66000404460001302/RRC/SRO/TLI dated 28.08.2025 and quash the same as illegal .

For Petitioner : Mr.N.S.Ramakrishna Dass,

For R1 to R3 : Mr.C.Karthick Standing Counsel COMMON ORDER These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the impugned orders

passed

by

the

first

respondent

in

No. 66000404460001302/INS/SRO/TLI (Ref. C18 Act Line No.211/23) dated 26.11.2023 and the consequential impugned Garnishee orders passed

by

the

second

respondent

in

No. 66000404460001302/RRC/SRO/TLI dated 28.08.2025.

2.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 submitted that the petitioner had already approached the ESI Court (Labour), Tirunelveli, challenging the impugned orders dated 26.11.2023 and that an interim stay has also been granted, which is not disputed by the learned counsel for the petitioner.

3.However, the learned counsel for the petitioner school submitted that second respondent passed the garnishee orders to the third respondent bank dated 28.08.2025. As a result, the third respondent bank has stopped payment and frozen the account. Therefore, the school management is unable to remit the employer's EPF amount and pay salaries to the staff.

4.Considering the above submissions, this Court is of the view that, since proceedings are pending before the ESI Court(Labour), Tirunelveli, no further orders are necessary in the present writ petitions. The petitioner is at liberty to seek stay of the garnishee orders before the said ESI Court. Accordingly, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

(K.SURENDER, J.)

27.01.2026 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order / Non-Speaking Order

K.SURENDER,J CP ORDER IN WP(MD) No.1331 of 2026 Date : 27/01/2026