The Agricultural Production Commissioner v. J.Jayaseelan David,

JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by C.V.KARTHIKEYAN) The writ appeal had been filed by the respondents in WP(MD) No. 8973 of 2025 aggrieved by the order dated 02.04.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge. The said writ petition had been filed in the nature of a mandamus seeking a direction against the first respondent/first appellant herein to pass appropriate orders on the departmental action initiated against the writ petitioner/respondent herein by the Director of Agriculture, Chennai on 06.08.2020.

¶2It had been stated that when the respondent herein/writ petitioner was working as Assistant Director of Agriculture, disciplinary proceedings had been initiated, charge memo was issued and an enquiry officer had also been appointed. The enquiry officer had submitted a report on 01.03.2023, however, the 2nd respondent in the writ petition/2nd appellant herein had not concluded the disciplinary proceedings. It was at that stage the writ petition had been filed and a direction had been issued by the learned Single Judge to conclude the disciplinary proceedings within a period of six weeks. Questioning that particular direction, the writ appeal had been filed.

¶3The learned Government Advocate, on instructions, stated that the 2nd appellant/Director of Agriculture, had concluded the proceedings and had forwarded the relevant records to the Secretary to Government, Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu. It is stated that some reasonable time should be granted by this Court for the Secretary to pass appropriate orders.

¶4Taking into consideration of all the factors, we would set an outer limit of eight weeks from the date on which the judgment is uploaded in the web site of this Court, to pass final orders in the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the respondent. The writ appeal stands disposed of with the above direction. No costs. Consequently connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

(C.V.K.,J.) (R.S.V,J.)

17.08.2026 NCC : Index : RR To

¶1The Secretary to Government Agriculture Department, Chennai.

2.The Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Agriculture, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

¶3The Director of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005. C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J AND R.SAKTHIVEL, J RR WA (MD) No.1291 of 2026

17.08.2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 17.08.2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL WA(MD) No.1291 of 2026 and CMP(MD) No.11091 of 2026 1. The Agricultural Production Commissioner and Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Agriculture, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009. 2. The Director of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai - 600 005. ... Appellants - Vs. - J.Jayaseelan David, S/o. Late. Thiru.D. John Rose, Door No 3/302/a2-1 First Street, Railway Colony, Pallivilai, Nagarkovil, Kanyakumari District - 629 001. ... Respondent Prayer:Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent, praying to prefer this Memorandum of Grounds of Writ Appeal against the order dated 02.04.2025 made in W.P.(MD) No. 8973 of 2025. For Appellants : Mr.K.K.Udayakumar Government Advocate For Respondent : Mr.S.Visvalingam