If the Chief Secretary of a State does not comply with a judicial order within the time stipulated by a court of law, how will other officials serving under him obey judicial orders in letter and spirit, asked Justice Battu Devanand of the Madras High Court on Monday (July 21, 2025).

He posed the question during the hearing of suo motu contempt of court proceedings initiated against Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam and his predecessor Shiv Das Meena, now serving as chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA).

After both officers appeared before the court following the issuance of statutory notices, the judge observed that Mr. Muruganandam would not have needed to stand before the court if Mr. Meena had promptly complied with an order passed as early as September 19, 2023.

Pointing out that Mr. Muruganandam had taken charge as Chief Secretary only on August 19, 2024, the judge said, he might not have come to know about the 2023 order until the present suo motu contempt proceedings were initiated against both officers in June 2025.

The judge also expressed satisfication with the steps taken by Mr. Muruganandam to implement the court order pursuant to the contempt proceedings, but questioned as to why Mr. Meena had not taken steps to implement the order between September 2023 and August 2024.

Justice Devanand recalled to have recorded his appreciation for Mr. Meena two years ago, in another case, for having issued a circular instructing all government officials to comply with court orders in true letter and spirit and also within the time stipulated by the court for their implementation.

“Now, the same officer is standing before the court for not implementing his own circular,” the judge remarked. Nevertheless, he closed the suo motu contempt proceedings after accepting the unconditional apology and being satisfied with steps taken by Mr. Muruganandam to implement the 2023 order.

What is the contempt case about?

Then, Justice Devanand had directed the Chief Secretary to constitute an expert committee for recommending necessary amendments to the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 2023, since the existing provisions suffered from various infirmities.

The judge had also ordered that the committee should consider fixing a time frame for providing compassionate employment to the dependants of government employees who died in service and consider the possibility of maintaining a district-wise list of dependants eligible for compassionate appointment.

He had also called for an action-taken report from the Chief Secretary within three months. However, in June 2025, the judge learnt that his 2023 direction had not been complied with and therefore, he initiated suo motu contempt against all those who held the post of Chief Secretary since then.

After Mr. Muruganandam reported that he had now constituted the committee and also submitted the minutes of its meetings, the judge recorded his submissions and closed the contempt proceedings with a direction to submit the amended statutory rules before the court after two weeks.