2025:MHC:3008

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-12-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V. LAKSHMINARAYANAN

WP No. 49022 of 2025

and

WMP No. 54751 of 2025

K.Saraswathi

Petitioner(s)

Vs

1.The Inspector of Panchyats/

District Collector,

Ranipet District.

2.The Assistant Director of Panchayat

(VP),

Ranipet District.

3.The Block Development Officer

(Village Panchyats),

Walaja Panchayat Union,

Ranipet District.

Respondent(s)

PRAYER

Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue writ of Certiorari, calling for the entire records relating to the Notice in Na.Ka.No.A2/586/2024 dated 04.12.2025 by the 1^st respondent and quash the

same.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.L.P.Shanmugasundaram

For Respondent(s): Mr.Ramanlal

Additional Advocate General

Assisted by Mr.M.Shajahan Special Government Pleader For R1 Mr.L.S.M.Hasan Fizal Additional Government Pleader For R2 & 3

ORDER

The petitioner is once again before this Court challenging the proceedings initiated against her under Section 205 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 [hereinafter referred to as ‘Panchayats Act’].

2. The petitioner is a person belonging to a scheduled caste community.

She was elected as the President of the Navlock Village Panchayat in 2021. Her term of office is for a period of five years. During the course of her activities as the President, notice was issued under Section 205 of the Panchayats Act. She challenged the same in W.P.No.13568 of 2024. The petition was allowed on 16.05.2024. The respondents were directed to re-do the exercise. When notices were issued again, the petitioner filed another writ petition in W.P.No.18836 of 2024. The said writ petition was dismissed by an order dated 16.08.2024. The petitioner filed an appeal against the said order in W.A.No.2572 of 2024. By an order dated 03.12.2025, the notice issued by the Assistant Director of Panchayat, Cheyyar Sub-Division, Thirvannamalai District under Section 205 of the Panchayats Act, was quashed. The Assistant Director was directed to transmit the entire papers to the District Collector cum Inspector of Panchayat, Thiruvannamalai, to enable him to proceed under Section 205 of the Panchayats Act, in case, he is so desired. This order was passed on 03.12.2025. The order was pronounced in the open Court, in the presence of the learned counsel for the writ petitioner as well as the learned Additional Advocate General, who represented the respondents.

3. The District Collector, acting on the order of this Court, has initiated fresh proceedings, which is being impugned in this writ petition. Mr.L.P.Shanmugasundaram, learned counsel for the petitioner pleaded that the petitioner has not been furnished with the list of documents that the District Collector relies upon. He adds that on the very next day of the order passed in the writ appeal, the Collector has issued a notice under Section 205(1) of the Panchayats Act.

4. When the matter came up yesterday, Mr.Ramanlal, learned Additional Advocate General, instructed by Mr.M.Shajahan, learned Special Government Pleader, reported that the records sought by petitioner have already been served on her. This fact was denied by Mr.L.P.Shanmugasundaram.

5. In order to give quietus to the issue, I requested Mr.Ramanlal to produce the copies of the documents relied upon by the 1^st respondent to initiate proceedings under Section 205 of the Panchayats Act before this Court. Hence, I posted the matter today.

6. When I took up the matter, Mr.Ramanlal has produced the typed set of papers containing, i. The request made by the petitioner on 05.12.2025 and;

ii. The replies that have been given to the said request on 16.12.2025 by the respondents;

In addition, he produced Four Volumes of Documents. The typed set and the documents were received and acknowledged by Mr.L.P.Shanmugasundaram.

7. Mr.Ramanlal states that in addition to these documents, in case the writ petitioner requires any further documents, she can specifically request for the same, which correspond