BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED : 02.12.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

WP(MD)No.6171 of 2024 and

WMP(MD)Nos.5788 of 2024 and 231 of 2025

Kasturi ...Petitioner

Vs

The Joint Registrar of Co-Operative Societies,

Virudhungar Region,

Virudhungar District. ...Respondent

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of certiorari to call for the records pertaining to the impugned order passed by the respondent in his proceedings in Na.Ka.No.3758/2023/SP, dated 27.07.2023 and quash the same as illegal.

For Petitioner : Mr.C.Gangai Amaran

For Respondent : Mr.G.Vairam Santhosh,

Additional Government Pleader

ORDER

The petitioner is a sales woman of Enchar Primary Agricultural

Co-Operative Society, who deals with the public distribution system.

The petitioner was placed under suspension on 01.06.2022 pursuant to registration of a criminal case against her in Crime No.99 of 2022 by the CS-CID, Virudhunagar on 27.05.2022. The CS-CID, Virudhunagar from a lorry bearing registration No.TN 09 D 4068 has recovered 300 bags rice and found that this rice was meant for fair price shops of Enchar, Satchiyapuram No.1, Naranapuram Nos.1 and 2 for supply under public distribution system. Subsequently on 16.08.2022 she was issued with a charge memo. The domestic enquiry was conducted and based on the enquiry report the President of the society imposed a punishment of stoppage of increment for a period of one year with cumulative effect. However on the report of the Joint Registrar, the Registrar suo motu has taken revision under Section 153 of the Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Societies Act and has imposed punishment of termination from service by order dated 27.07.2023 and the same is impugned in this writ petition.

2.This Court while entertaining this writ petition has granted an order of interim stay on 14.03.2024. The respondents have filed an application to vacate the interim stay. On hearing the vacate stay application, by consent of both parties, this writ petition is taken up for final hearing and is disposed of by this order.

3.The main contention of the petitioner is that as per Section 153 of Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Societies Act, this suo motu power can be invoked within a period of 90 days. However, this suo motu revision has been taken beyond the period of limitation and without even issuing notice to the petitioner. Therefore, the same is liable to be set aside. 4.The learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner / a sales woman has illegally transported rice meant for public distribution, which was recovered and a criminal case has been registered. Based on the report of the Inspector of Police, CS-CID, the petitioner was placed under suspension on 01.06.2022, charge memo was issued on 16.08.2022, enquiry officer submitted his report on 27.08.2022 and on 28.08.2022 the disciplinary authority has imposed the punishment of stoppage of increment for one year. Since the punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority was disproportionate to the gravity of the charges, the Registrar of the Co-Operative Society has suo motu taken revision under Section 153 of the Tamil Nadu Co-Operative Societies Act and issued notice to the petitioner on 25.05.2023. The petitioner appeared for enquiry on

21.06.2023. She has also sought time and therefore, it was adjourned to 22.06.2023. The President as well as the petitioner have appeared before the Registrar for enquiry on 22.06.2023 and they sought for 10 days time for submitting their written explanation. The time was granted upto 04.07.2023 and both have appeared for enquiry on 04.07.2023 and submitted their written explanation. Thereafter the Registrar has passed an order imposing major punishment considering the gravity of delinquency and therefore, according to the learned Additional Government Pleader, for this suo motu revision power, invoked by the Registrar, there is no limitation prescr