Madras High Court
N.K.Dhanapalan vs S.P.Shanthi on 24 April, 2026
Author: S. M. Subramaniam
Bench: S. M. Subramaniam
WA No. 1101 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 24-04-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SAKTHIVEL WA No. 1101 of 2026
1. N.K.Dhanapalan Labour Welfare Officer, Chennai.
(now Administrative Officer, Tamil Nadu Construction Workers Welfare Board, No.08, Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungampakkam, Chennai 34
2. G.Ramu, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Villuppuram, No. 35, Padmini Nagar, Villanur, Puducherry 607 002. (now Asst. Commissioner of Labour, (Social Security Scheme) Deepan Nagar, Semmendalam, Cuddalore 607 002.)
3. U. Ramaraj, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Karur, No. 23/6, MGR Nagar, Palani 624 001.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Theni Collectorate Campus, Karuvelanyakan Patti, Theni 625 531)
4. K. Palani, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E)-II, Chennai, No. 13C/1, New Street, Commigspet, Tirpappuliyur, Cuddalore 607 002.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E)-II, Tamil Nadu Labour Welfare Board Building, __________ Page1 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 DMS Campus,Teynampet, Chennai 600 006)
5. J. Kalidoss, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Madurai, 595, Gnanagiri Road, Sivakasi.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour, (Social Security Scheme) Integrated Labour Office Building, Virudhunagar Collectorate Campus, Virudhunagar 626 002)
6. S. Vetriselvi Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C)-I, Chennai, No. 1, WJW Block, Lloyds Colony, Royapettah, Chennai 600 014.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C)-3, Tamil Nadu Labour Welfare Board Building, 2nd Floor, DMS Campus, Teynempet, Chennai 600 006)
7. M. Manimegalai, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E)-III, Chennai, No. 360, 12th Cross Street, T.P. Chatram, Kilpauk Garden, Chennai 600 010.
(now Administrative Officer, (Minimum Wages) O/o Commissioner of Labour, P Block, 6th Avenue, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040)
8. L. Kannagi, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C)-II, Kuralagam, Chennai 600 001. (now Asst. Commissioner of Labour, (Social Security Scheme) 18/, Trichy Road, Ramanthapuram, Coimbatore, Chennai 641 045)
9. D. Gnanavel __________ Page2 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Krishnagiri, 25, Old Mosque Street, Cheyyar.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour, (Social Security Scheme) Integrated Labour Office Building, (Ground floor), Amman Nagar, Melmonavoor, Vellore 632 010)
10. E. Venkatesan, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C), Cuddalore, No. 99/13A, North Mada Street, Thiruvottiyur, Chennai 600 019. (now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Bigmill Road, Vijayapuram, Thiruvarur)
11. R. Rajkumar, Assistant of Labour (SSS) Theni New No. 45, Old No. 25, Lake View Garden 2nd Street, K.K. Nagar, Madurai 20.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour, (Social Security Scheme) Collectorate Campus, Dindugal 624 004)
12. S. Prema, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C), Tiruppur, No. R-28,-B. Kovaipudur, Coimbatore 43.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C), Integrated Labour Office Building, 2nd Floor, Avinasi Main Road, Tiruppur)
13. A. Senbagaraman Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C)-I, Vellore, No.12, Royal Kuttai Street, Kancheepuram 631 502. (now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Integrated Labour Office Building, __________ Page3 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 Yercaud Main Road, Salem 600 008)
14. S. Myviliselvi, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Sivagangai, No. 270, II Floor, LIC Colony, K.K. Nagar, Madurai.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), No.2, Labour Offices Building, Race Course, Madurai)
15. O. Janakiram, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (C)-II, Chennai,10, Second Lane, Anjaneya Nagar, Royapuram, Chennai 600 013. (now Administrative Officer, Tamil Nadu Labour Welfare Board, DMS Campus, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006)
16. K. Chenthil Kumaran Inspector of Labour-Tiruvarur, No. 7/10, Veera Reddypalayam, Ussoor Post, Vellore. (now Asst. Commissioner of Labour, (Social Security Scheme), 110, Kamaraj Nagar 1st Street, Mettupalayam, P.N. Road, Tiruppur)
17. P. Ramakrishnan, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Thirunelveli, No. 86, Vijalakshmi Street, Kamaraj Nagar, Perungalathur, Chenai 600 063.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Plantations, Stanmore Junction, Valparai 642 127)
18. R. Jaisankar, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (SSS), Vaniyambadi, No. 14, Thirumurugan Nagar, Panapakkam Post, Arakkonam (Tk), __________ Page4 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 Vellore 631 052.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour, (Social Security Scheme), Integrated Labour Office Building, 108/1, Orikai Anna Nesaralur Kudiyuruppu, Kanchipuram 631 502)
19. K. Thiruvalluvan Assistant Commissioner of Labour (E), Virudhunagar.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Block No.39, Vasantham Colony, Thirumal Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram Road, Thirunelveli 627 001.) ..Appellant(s) Vs
1. S.P.Shanthi W/o. V. Suresh Babu, No. 6/1, Venkateswara Nagar, 4th Street, Adyar, Chennai 600 020
2. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary, Labour and Empoyment Department, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009
3. The Commissioner of Labour, D.M.S. Compound, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018
4. The Principal Secretary P and AR Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009
5. The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Chennai 600 002
6. A.Valarmathi, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Thiruvallur, Lalbahadhur Shastri Street, Periyakuppam, Tiruvallur.
__________ Page5 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 (now Retired)
7. S. Rajendiran (Since retired), P. No. 16, 4/476A, Arun Nagar, Nagamalai, Pudhukottai, Madurai 625 019.
(now Retired)
8. D. Lakshminarayanan Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), (Under Suspension), 736, Ramamoorthi Nagar, PuthuMariamman Koil PO, Salem 636 003 (now Asst. Commissioner of Plantations Gudalur, No.274, D State Bank Lane, Ooty, Nilgiris 643 001)
9. P. Shobana Asst. Commissioner of Labour (SSS), Ponneri.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E)-I, Tamil Nadu Labour Welfare Board Building, 4th Floor, DMS Campus, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006)
10. S. Ponnuswamy S/o.Subbaiah Joint Commissioner of Labour - II DMS Complex, Chennai - 6
11. T. Tamilarasi, W/o R Sivaraman Joint Commissioner of Labour (MW) DMS Complex, Chennai - 6
12. M. Shanthi, W/o. U Lakshmikanthan Joint Commissioner of Labour (Spl) O/o Commissioner of Labour, DMS Complex, Chennai 6
13. D Vimalanathan __________ Page6 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 Now Special Joint Commissioner, O/o. Commissioner of Labour, Anna Nagar, Chennai 40.
..Respondent(s) WA No. 1101 of 2026 To set aside the Common Order dated 13.03.2026 passed in WP.No.14887 of 2019 and pass such further or other orders as may be deemed fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case and thus render justice WA No. 1101 of 2026 For Appellant(s): Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan, for Mr.R.Syed Mustafa For Respondent(s): Mr.Dakshayani reddy, Senior Counsel for Mrs.S.Sunitha for R1 Mr.R.Neelakandan, Additional Advocate General for D.S.Suriya Addl.Govt.Pleader for R 2 to R4 Order (Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The appellants were appointed as Labour Officers, recruited by way of transfer of service for the year 2011-2012 vide G.O.Ms.No.48, Labour and Employment Department, dated 02.04.2012. After the appointment of appellants as Labour Officers in the above G.O., a set of Labour Officers were appointed directly through Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. Inter se seniority dispute exists between the in-service candidates recruited by transfer of service as well as direct recruits. The Writ Court has set aside the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.48 dated 02.04.2012, appointing the __________ Page7 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 appellants as Labour Officers by way of recruitment from service as well as similar G.Os appointing the in-service candidates as Labour Officers by way of recruitment by transfer.
2. The appellants as well as the other Officers appointed by way of recruitment by transfer of service in the year 2012 are working as such for the past about 14 years in the Department.
3. The Writ Petitions have been filed in the year 2019, after a lapse of about 6½ years from the date of appointment of the appellants. The writ petitions are instituted after lapse of 6½ years from the date of appointment of the appellants to the post of Labour Officers and further, they are holding the posts for the past 14 years. Thus, this Court is inclined to admit the Writ Appeal.
Admit. Notice to the respondents.
Post the matter in the 1st week of June, 2026.
(S.M.S.,J.) (R.S.V.,J.) 24-04-2026 VSI __________ Page8 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 To
1. S.P.Shanthi W/o. V. Suresh Babu, No. 6/1, Venkateswara Nagar, 4th Street, Adyar, Chennai 600 020
2. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep. by its Secretary, Labour and Empoyment Department, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009
3. The Commissioner of Labour, D.M.S. Compound, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018
4. The Principal Secretary P and AR Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai 600 009
5. The Secretary, Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Chennai 600 002
6. A.Valarmathi, Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), Thiruvallur, Lalbahadhur Shastri Street, Periyakuppam, Tiruvallur.
(now Retired)
7. S. Rajendiran (Since retired), P. No. 16, 4/476A, Arun Nagar, Nagamalai, Pudhukottai, Madurai 625 019.
(now Retired)
8. D. Lakshminarayanan Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E), (Under Suspension), 736, Ramamoorthi Nagar, PuthuMariamman Koil PO, Salem 636 003 __________ Page9 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 (now Asst. Commissioner of Plantations Gudalur, No.274, D State Bank Lane, Ooty, Nilgiris 643 001)
9. P. Shobana Asst. Commissioner of Labour (SSS), Ponneri.
(now Asst. Commissioner of Labour (E)-I, Tamil Nadu Labour Welfare Board Building, 4th Floor, DMS Campus, Teynampet, Chennai 600 006)
10. S. Ponnuswamy S/o.Subbaiah Joint Commissioner of Labour - II DMS Complex, Chennai - 6
11. T. Tamilarasi, W/o R Sivaraman Joint Commissioner of Labour (MW) DMS Complex, Chennai - 6
12. M. Shanthi, W/o. U Lakshmikanthan Joint Commissioner of Labour (Spl) O/o Commissioner of Labour, DMS Complex, Chennai 6
13. D Vimalanathan Now Special Joint Commissioner, O/o. Commissioner of Labour, Anna Nagar, Chennai 40.
__________ Page10 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WA No. 1101 of 2026 S.M.SUBRAMANIAM J.
AND R.SAKTHIVEL J.
VSI WA No. 1101 of 2026 24-04-2026 __________ Page11 of 11 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis