IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 11-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.V. KARTHIKEYAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.KUMARESH BABU WP No. 25153 of 2023 and WMP No.24573 of 2023 The Union of India Rep. by the Additional Director General of Ordnance, (Disciplinary Authority) DoO (C&S), 10-A, S.K.Bose Road, Kolkatta -700001.

..Petitioner(s)

Vs.

1. K.Ravikumar Junior Works Manager, PER No. 926106, High Energy Projectile Factory, Trichy.

2. The Registrar, Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras Bench, Chennai.

3. The State Level Scrutiny Committee, Rep. By Its Chairman, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Namakkal Kavignar Maligai, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600009. (R3 Suo Motu Impleaded Vide Order Dated

29.01.2026 made in WP.25153/2023)

..Respondent(s)

Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records on the file of the CAT dated 07.03.2023 in O.A. 310/00448 of 2022, the 2nd respondent herein and quash the same.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.A.Zakir Hussain (CGSC)

for Mr.S.Diwakar.

For Respondent(s): Mr.Vijay Shankar for R1, R2-Tribunal Mr. V. Manoharan AGP for R3 Mr.S.Jesudas, Assistant Law Officer, ADW Department.

ORDER

(Order of the Court was made by C.V.Karthikeyan, J.)

The respondent in OA No.448 of 2022, on the file of the Central Administrative Tribunal, aggrieved by an order dated 07.03.2023, has filed the present writ petition.

2.OA No.448 of 2022 had been filed by the first respondent herein, K.Ravikumar, Junior Works Manager (Selection Grade), High Energy Projectile Factory, Trichy, seeking records of the writ petitioner, dated 26.05.2022 and quash the same.

3.It is the contention of the first respondent herein that he had been issued with a ST certificate by the Tahsildar on 02.05.1981. He was then appointed as Security Assistant in September 1993, promoted as Chargeman in 1997 and further promoted as Foreman NT in 2007, which post had been redesignated as Junior Works Manager. The State Level Scrutiny Committee (hereinafter referred to as ‘SLSC’) initiated verification process of his ST certificate in 2016. Final report had not been given, however, a charge memo dated 26.05.2022 had been issued contending that he had produced fake/fabricated ST community certificate for employment. Questioning such charge memo as having been issued without jurisdiction and that it is invalid, the first respondent had filed the original application before the Tribunal.

4.The Tribunal by an order dated 07.03.2023, after examining the rival contentions had stated that the competent authority to decide the genuineness or otherwise of the community certificate is the SLSC before whom the case of the first respondent is pending. It had been further held that since a final decision had not been rendered by the SLSC, status quo will have to be maintained, but however, it is open to the writ petitioner to proceed further with the charge memo in accordance with the decision of the SLSC. Aggrieved by those directions, the present writ petition has been filed.

5.It is the contention of the learned counsel for the writ petitioner that only a charge memo had been issued and it is always open to the first respondent to participate in the enquiry proceedings and putforth his statement of defence. It had been contended that the writ petitioner had materials to proceed against the first respondent herein departmentally. It had been contended that even at the preliminary stage, the first respondent had filed the original application before the Tribunal and that without any enquiry being conducted, the Tribunal had kept in abeyance the further proceedings of the charge memo. It had been contended that therefore the directions issued by the Tribunal should be interfered with by this Court.

6.The learned counsel for the first respondent however contended that the issues are pending before the SLSC from the year 2016 and for no fault of the first respondent, the charge memo had