High Court · 2025

Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 2022BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURTDATED: 13.06.2025CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SHAMIM AHMEDContempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 2022InW.P.(MD)No.8357 of 2021R.Precilla Valantina,Assistant Head Mistress,Sarah Tucker Girls Higher Secondary School,Palayamkottai,Tirunelveli District.Petitioner / Writ Petitioner Vs1.Mr.A.Karuppasamy, The Director of Elementary Education, O/o.The Director of Elementary Education, DPI Compound, College Road, Chennai.2.Mr.Senthilvelmurugan, The Chief Educational Officer, O/o.Chief Educational Office, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli – 9.3.Mrs.E.Vasantha, The District Educational Officer, O/o.Chief Educational Office, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli – 9. Contemnors/Respondents1/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 2022PRAYER: Contempt Petition is filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts Act, to punish the Contemnors/Respondents for willfully disobeying and not complying with the order passed by this Court in W.P(MD)No.6755 of 2018, dated 15.03.2019.For Petitioner : Mr.M.Hariharan For Mr.P.R.PrithvirajFor Respondents: Mr.R.Baskaran Additional Advocate General Assisted by, Mr.F.Deepak Special Government Pleader ORDERThis is a petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the Respondents for violation of the order, dated 22.04.2021 passed in W.P.(MD)No.8357 of 2021.2. Heard Mr.M.Hariharan, learned counsel for Mr.P.R.Prithviraj, learned counsel, appearing for the Petitioner and Mr.R.Baskaran, learned Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.F.Deepak, learned Special Government Pleader who accepts notice on behalf of the Respondents. 3. This Court vide order dated 12.06.2025 passed the following order:“4.In compliance with the order passed by this Court dated 23.04.2025, Mr.F.Deepak, the 2/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 2022learned Special Government Pleader for the Respondents, has produced an affidavit annexing the copy of the order dated 09.05.2025, passed by the District Educational Officer (Secondary), Tirunelveli / 2nd Respondent, and submits that the Respondents have fully complied with the orders passed by the Writ Court dated 22.04.2021 in W.P.(MD)No.8357 of 2021. A copy of the said order has been taken on record and furnished to the learned counsel for the Petitioner.5.Mr.P.R.Prithviraj, learned counsel for the Petitioner, received the copy of the order dated 09.05.2025 and submits that the Respondents have not made full compliance with the order passed by the Writ Court dated 22.04.2021 in W.P.(MD)No.8357 of 2021.6.After perusing the compliance affidavit and the copy of the order dated 09.05.2025, passed by the District Educational Officer (Secondary), Tirunelveli/2nd Respondent, this Court directs Mrs.E.Vasantha, District Educational Officer, Tirunelveli District, to appear in person on 13.06.2025 at 10:30 A.M. to justify under what circumstances the lump sum amount of Rs. 25,000/- has been paid to the Petitioner, despite the clear-cut order passed by the Writ Court on 3/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 202222.04.2021 in W.P.(MD) No. 8357 of 2021, to give incentives as per the higher qualification obtained by the Petitioner.7. Put up this case on 13.06.2025 before this Court “For Orders”. 8. Let a copy of this order be given to Mr.F.Deepak, learned Special Government Pleader, for its necessary compliance and information to the Respondents.” 4. In compliance with the order dated 12.06.2025 passed by this Court in the present contempt petition, Mrs.N.Sayee Subbulakshmi, who is presently serving as District Educational Officer, Tirunelveli District, appeared in person and produced an order dated 12.06.2025 before this Court. She submitted that to avoid contempt of Court proceedings, the order dated 12.06.2025 was issued, wherein incentive increment for acquiring M.Phil degree will be granted to the petitioner, Mrs.R.Priscilla Valentina, from 18.01.2013, as per the Government Order in G.O. (1D) 18 School Education (E2) Department dated 18.01.2013. A copy of the said order has been taken on record and furnished to the petitioner's counsel. For better appreciation, the order dated 12.06.2025 is scanned and extracted accordingly:4/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 20225/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 20226/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 20225. Mr.R.Baskaran, learned Additional Advocate General assisted by Mr.F.Deepak, learned Special Government Pleader for the Respondents, submits that the monetary benefits due as per the order dated 12.06.2025 shall be paid to the Petitioner within a period of six weeks from today. Thus, he submits that the judgment and order passed by the Writ Court dated 22.04.2021, in W.P.(MD) No. 8357 of 2021 has been complied with, and therefore, he prays that the Respondents be discharged from the contempt proceedings.6. Mr.M.Hariharan, learned counsel for the petitioner, received the order dated 12.06.2025 and submits that the judgment and order dated 22.04.2021 in W.P.(MD) No. 8357 of 2021 have been complied with by the third respondent, the District Educational Officer, Tirunelveli District. However, the petitioner was granted benefits only from 18.01.2013 instead of 2009, the year she completed her M.Phil degree. The learned counsel requests that, as assured by the Additional Advocate General, the monetary benefits be paid within six weeks. Accordingly, he has no objection to the Respondents being discharged from the contempt proceedings at this stage.7/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 20227. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel for the Petitioner and the learned Additional Advocate General for the Respondents, and upon perusal of the order dated 12.06.2025 passed by the District Educational Officer, Tirunelveli, this Court is satisfied that the Respondents have fully complied with the judgment and order of the Writ Court dated 22.04.2021, in W.P.(MD) No. 8357 of 2021 and the incentive increment for acquiring M.Phil degree will be granted by the Respondents to the petitioner/Mrs.R.Priscilla Valentina, from 18.01.2013, as per the Government Order in G.O. (1D) 18 School Education (E2) Department dated 18.01.2013. The learned Additional Advocate General has also assured that the monetary benefits will be disbursed within a period of six weeks from today. In view of the assurance given by the learned Additional Advocate General, this Court deems it appropriate to drop the contempt proceedings. Accordingly, the Respondents are discharged from the contempt proceedings at this stage.8/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 20228. In view of the above, the Contempt Petition is disposed of with a direction to the Respondents to disburse the monetary benefits to the Petitioner, within a period of six weeks from today, without fail. The file shall be consigned to the record. There shall be no order as to costs.13.06.2025NCC:yes/noIndex:yes/noInternet:yes/noNsrTo:1.The Director of Elementary Education, O/o.The Director of Elementary Education, DPI Compound, College Road, Chennai.2.The Chief Educational Officer, O/o.Chief Educational Office, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli – 9.3.The District Educational Officer, O/o.Chief Educational Office, Tirunelveli District, Tirunelveli – 9.9/10 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Contempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 2022SHAMIM AHMED , J. NsrContempt Petition (MD)No.1014 of 202213.06.202510/10