ORDER

The writ petition has been filed by an Assistant working in the office of

Personnel Assistant to Collector (Agri), Theni challenging the charge memo issued to him on 01.09.2023 by the second respondent.

2.According to the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner, the petitioner is the State Auditor in the Tamil Nadu State Government Employees Association. A news item appeared in a weekly magazine in the month of August-2023 that the agricultural lands in Theni District are being converted as Real Estate based upon the certificate issued by the first respondent herein. Disturbed by the said news, the petitioner had communicated the said news in a WhatsApp group known as TAMSA which is a WhatsApp group meant for Tamil Nadu Agricultural Ministerial Service Association. According to the petitioner, the news was communicated literally and verbatim and it does not amount to misconduct. Therefore, the same is not in violation of Tamil Nadu Government Servants Conduct Rules,

1973.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioner had relied upon the judgment of this Court to contend that when the association activities are being discussed in a closed WhatsApp, it will not attract discipl