Madras High Court
G.Alexander vs Mr.S.Ramesh on 13 February, 2026
Author: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
Bench: G.K.Ilanthiraiyan
CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 13.02.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
Cont.P(MD)Nos.1810 to 1812 and 1814 to 1820 of 2025
(1)Cont.P(MD)No.1810 of 2025:-
G.Alexander : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29074 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(2)Cont.P(MD)No.1811 of 2025:-
R.Stephen : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29075 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
(3)Cont.P(MD)No.1812 of 2025:-
D.John : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29076 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(4)Cont.P(MD)No.1814 of 2025:-
V.Jebadhas : Petitioner/Petitioner
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
Vs.
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29077 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(5)Cont.P(MD)No.1815 of 2025:-
B.Joseph Kali Arasu : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29078 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(6)Cont.P(MD)No.1816 of 2025:-
R.Manikandan : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29079 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(7)Cont.P(MD)No.1817 of 2025:-
K.Ganesan : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29080 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(8)Cont.P(MD)No.1818 of 2025:-
S.Christhuraj : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region, Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of
Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29081 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(9)Cont.P(MD)No.1819 of 2025:-
S.Rajakumar : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt
of Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29082 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
(10)Cont.P(MD)No.1820 of 2025:-
M.Yesudhas : Petitioner/Petitioner
Vs.
1.Mr.S.Ramesh,
The Chief Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Madurai Region,
Thallakulam,
Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar,
The Superintending Engineer,
O/o.The Superintendent Engineer,
Water Resource Department,
Thamirabarani Basin Circle,
Tirunelveli District.
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CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
3.Mr.Arulson Bright,
The Executive Engineer,
Kodayar Basin Division,
Water Resources Department,
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District. : Contemnors/Respondents 1 to 3
Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Contempt
of Court Act, 1971, to initiate contempt proceedings against
contemnors/respondents 1 to 3 and to punish them for the willful
disobedience of the order of this Court in W.P(MD)No.29083 of 2024,
dated 05/12/2024.
For Petitioner : Mr.M.Mahaboob Fazil
(In all cases) for M/s.Roy and Roy Associates
For Respondents : Mr.Veera.Kathiravan,
Additional Advocate General
(in all cases) Assisted by Mr.D.Gandhiraj,
Special Government Pleader
COMMON ORDER
These Contempt Petitions filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 to initiate contempt proceedings against the Contemnor / Respondent No.1 to 3 and punish them for the willful disobedience of the order of the this Court, dated 05.12.2024, thereby directed the respondents to disperse the amount which is entitled by the petitioners for the work pertaining to desilting of T.Code main channel. 10/14 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/03/2026 07:24:24 pm ) CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025
2. As per the direction of this Court, dated 23.01.2026, the contemnors are present before this Court.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Advocate General for the respondents. The third respondent herein filed the affidavit.
4. On a perusal of the affidavit filed by the third respondent and the submissions made by the learned Additional Advocate General, it is revealed that the works agreed to with the petitioner under the agreement entered into between the Department and the respondents predominantly relate to jungle clearance and desilting. The said works are stated to have been executed during the financial year 2023–2024. However, the then Executive Engineer, who is the competent authority, has categorically denied the execution of the said works and has stated that the same could not be verified at the site by any of the succeeding Executive Engineers. It is further submitted that payment for any executed work can be made only after the work is super-checked by the Executive Engineer 11/14 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/03/2026 07:24:24 pm ) CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025 concerned and the measurements are duly recorded and certified. Such payment has to be effected only on the basis of the super-check measurement. Since the Executive Engineer in charge of the work is the executing authority with respect to its execution and certification, and in the present case, the Executive Engineer has denied the execution of the work and no super-check measurement has been carried out, the claim made by the petitioner is alleged to be false. Therefore, there is absolutely no possibility of settling the disputed bill in the absence of a super-check measurement. In this regard, an enquiry was conducted by the Enquiry Officer, who found certain lapses, and based on the Enquiry Officer’s report, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the concerned officials. The charges have been forwarded to the Engineer-in- Chief and Chief Engineer (General), Water Resources Department, Chepauk, Chennai, for approval, by proceedings dated 07.01.2026.
5. In view of the above, the petitioners are not entitled to any amount as claimed by them until the completion of the super-check measurement in accordance with the prescribed procedure. Therefore, the direction issued by this Court to disburse the amount payable to the 12/14 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 03/03/2026 07:24:24 pm ) CONT P(MD). Nos.1810 to 1820 of 2025 petitioners for the desilting work cannot be complied with in the absence of such super-check measurement and certification. Hence, no case of wilful disobedience is made out against the alleged contemnors, and the contempt petitions are liable to be dismissed.
6. Accordingly, these Contempt Petitions are dismissed.
13.02.2026 LS TO
1.Mr.S.Ramesh, The Chief Engineer, Water Resource Department, Madurai Region, Thallakulam, Madurai District.
2.Mr.S.Sivakumar, The Superintending Engineer, O/o.The Superintendent Engineer, Water Resource Department, Thamirabarani Basin Circle, Tirunelveli District.
3.Mr.Arulson Bright, The Executive Engineer, Kodayar Basin Division, Water Resources Department, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.
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