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WP No. 3559 of 2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 05-02-2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI

WP No. 3559 of 2026

and WMP NO. 3990 OF 2026

Balamurugan,

Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The Chairman

PRTC/Secretary(Transport),

Puducherry Road Transport

Corporation Ltd, Puducherry -605 001.

2.The Managing Director,

Puducherry Road Transport

Corporation Ltd, Raja Nagar,

Puducherry -605 013.

3.The General

Manager(Administration),

Puducherry Road Transport

Corporation Ltd, Raja Nagar,

Puducherry -605 013.

Respondent(s)

PRAYER; This writ petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India,

to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, Calling for the records on the file

of the 3rd respondent in the Impugned Order in No. 50/PRTC/Adm/2025/830

dated 25.09.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the Respondents

to provide the increment to the Petitioner and also the salary for the suspension

period.

For Petitioner(s): M/s.S. Lakshmi Narayanan

For Respondent: Mr.R.Sreedhar, AGP (P)

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WP No. 3559 of 2026

ORDER

This petition has been filed seeking the 3rd respondent in the Impugned

Order in No. 50/PRTC/Adm/2025/830 dated 25.09.2025 and consequently

direct the Respondents to provide the increment to the Petitioner and also the

salary for the suspension period.

2. The case of the petitioner is that on 18.02.2017, while he was on duty

bearing Bus.No.610-A bearing No Registration No.PY-01-N-7987 plying from

Karaikkal to Mayiladuthurai, 5 passengers had boarded the bus in Kadali on the

fron side of the bus, the bus was over crowd and he was issuing tickets from the

backside. Immediately, at Memathur Area, the checking Inspector had boarded

the bus and found out that the 4 passengers were not issued tickets, for which,

the petitioner was suspended for a period from 18.12.2017 to 25.03.2017. It is

further stated that the 3rd respondent, without conducting any enquiry or

affording sufficient opportunity of hearing, passed the impugned order dated

25.09.2025 imposing the penalty of stoppage of increment for four years with

cumulative effect and further stated that no salary will be paid to the petitioner

for the suspension period. Challenging the same, the present writ petition has

been filed.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the

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WP No. 3559 of 2026

even assuming that the petitioner had committed the alleged misconduct, the

respondent concerned ought to have conducted an enquiry, in order to enable the

petitioner to defend his case. But without doing so, the 3rd respondent passed

the impugned order and therefore the same suffers from violation of principles

of natural justice. He therefore prays to set aside the same.

4. Learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents

fairly submitted that the order impugned herein may be set aside and the

respondent concerned will conduct enquiry after issuing show cause notice to

the petitioner and thereafter pass appropriate orders, as per the standing orders

of the Respondent Corporation.

6. Considering the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on

either side, this Court is inclined to set aside the order passed by the 3rd

respondent dated 25.09.2025.

7. Accordingly, the order impugned herein is set aside and the matter is

remanded back to the Authority. The Authority concerned shall issue Show

Cause Notice to the petitioner and thereafter shall conduct full fledged enquiry

and shall pass appropriate orders as per the standing orders of the Respondent

Corporation.

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WP No. 3559 of 2026

8. With the above directions, this writ petition stands disposed of. No

costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

05-02-2026

rli

Index:Yes/No

Speaking/Non-speaking order

Internet:Yes

Neutral Citation:Yes/No

To

1.The Chairman

PRTC/Secretary(Trans