[Cites 2, Cited by 0]
Madras High Court
Soundar vs Mr.K.J.Praveen Kumar on 16 March, 2026
Author: R.Vijayakumar
Bench: R.Vijayakumar
Cont.P.(MD)No.220 of 2026
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED: 16.03.2026
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR
Cont.P.(MD)No.220 of 2026
in
W.P.(MD)No.23179 of 2019
Soundar ... Petitioner/
Petitioner
Vs.
1.Mr.K.J.Praveen Kumar, I.A.S.,
The District Collector,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.Murugavel,
The Special Officer / The Management,
A-2582, Madurai City Co-operative Housing
Society Ltd.,
Ramamoorthy Nilayam,
Plot No.48, K.K.Nagar,
Madurai-625020. ... Contemnors/
Respondents 1&3
Prayer : This Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of Contempt of
Courts Act, to punish the contemnors / respondents 1 and 3 herein for the
willful disobedience and non-compliance of the order passed by this Court
in W.P.(MD)No.23179 of 2019 dated 24.06.2025.
1/8
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Cont.P.(MD)No.220 of 2026
For Petitioner : Mr.K.Vamanan
For Respondents : Mr.K.R.Badurus Zaman
Government Advocate for R1
Mr.S.Kumar for R2
ORDER
The present contempt petition has been filed alleging violation of a
part of the order of this Court dated 24.06.2025 made in W.P.(MD)No.
23179 of 2019.
2. This Court by an order dated 24.06.2025 had permitted the
petitioner to withdraw the amount that was deposited by the second
respondent Management before the Controlling Authority under Payment
of Gratuity Act, Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Madurai / second
respondent therein. That portion of the order has been complied with and
the petitioner has already withdrawn a sum of Rs.2,10,222/-.
3. This Court in the same order had directed the second respondent
Management to deposit the interest portion on or before 31.10.2025.
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4. According to the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, the
total interest comes to Rs.4,80,573/-. Out of the said amount, only
Rs.90,000/- has been paid to the petitioner and the balance amount of
Rs.3,90,573/- has to be paid.
5. The learned counsel appearing for the second respondent
Management submitted that the Co-operative Society is under financial
crisis and therefore they seek permission of this Court to pay the above
said amount in monthly installments and an affidavit has been filed to the
said effect. Paragraph No.6 of the said affidavit is extracted as follows:-
“6. I submit that As per order of the authority under
payment of gratuity Act, the interest payable on gratuity
amount is calculated and it comes to Rs.4,80,573/-.
Subsequent to the order of this Hon'ble court, on
20.12.2025 the 2nd contemnor/3rd respondent has handed
over Demand Draft for sum of Rs.50,000/- to the Tahsildar,
Madurai North Taluk Office and also informed him that
the society is under deep financial crisis and balance
amount will be paid on monthly installment of Rs.20,000/-
to the writ petitioner. Since entire interest amount was not
deposited, the petitioner filed the above contempt petition.
Though all possible steps have been taken to settle interest
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amount, it could not be done for non availability of
sufficient funds with the society. There is no intention for
the society to keep interest amount unsettled. As assured to
Tahsildar, Madurai North Taluk Office, on 13.02.2026, the
respondent has drawn DD for sum of Rs.40,000/- in favour
of the petitioner. As on today, the respondent has paid
Rs.90,000/- out of Rs.4,80,873/- and balance interest
amount is Rs.3,90,873/-. The respondent will pay balance
interest amount on equal monthly installment of
Rs.20,000/- directly to the account of the petitioner which
will commence from March, 2026 and end on September
2027. This respondent will not commit any default in
making such payment. This respondent has enclosed
schedule of payment attached herewith. As such, there is
no willful disobedience of the part me in complying the
order of this Hon'ble court. Further as and when plots
were sold, the entire interest amount will be settled at
once.”
6. As per the said affidavit, every month the second respondent
Management would pay a sum of Rs.20,000/- directly to the petitioner.
The installments would start from 20.03.2026. The last installment of
Rs.30,573/- would be paid on 20.09.2027.
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7. In view of the financial constraints expressed by the second
respondent Management, this Court is inclined to accept the said affidavit
and permits the second respondent Management to pay the interest amount
by way of installments as agreed by them under the affidavit.
8. Bank details have been furnished by the petitioner by way of
memo dated 16.03.2026 before this Court. The memo is recorded.
9. The second respondent Management is directed to credit the
amount directly to the bank account of the petitioner.
10. It is made clear that in case of any violation of any one of the
installments, the petitioner is at liberty to approach this Court to revive the
contempt proceedings.
11. With the above said observations, this Contempt Petition stands
closed.
16.03.2026
NCC :yes/No
Index :yes/No
Internet:yes/No
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To
1.Mr.K.J.Praveen Kumar, I.A.S.,
The District Collector,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.Murugavel,
The Special Officer / The Management,
A-2582, Madurai City Co-operative Housing
Society Ltd.,
Ramamoorthy Nilayam,
Plot No.48, K.K.Nagar,
Madurai-625020.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
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R.VIJAYAKUMAR,J.
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Order made in
in
Dated : 16.03.2026
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