Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated : 25.06.2026 Coram The Hon’ble Mr.Justice T.Vinod Kumar Contempt Petition No.2985 of 2024 T.Manivachagan ...Petitioner Vs. 1. Mr.A.Annadurai, I.A.S. Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., Head Office, Kilpauk, Chennai – 10. 2. Mr.P.Ravi Regional Manager (In-charge) Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., Salem Region, Salem. ..Respondents Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for wilful and intentional disobedience to the Order of the Court in W.P.No.18844 of 2018 dated 05.07.2022. For Petitioner : M/s.R.Deepika Sonali for M/s.M.Muthappan For Respondents : Mr.C.P.Gowtham. Government Advocate ORDER This Contempt Petition is filed to punish the respondents for willfully disobeying the orders of this Court in W.P.No.18844 of 2018 dated 05.07.2022. 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 2. At the outset, this Court would like to point out that Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 prescribes the limitation of one year for initiating contempt proceedings. 3. Further, it is noted that as per the law declared by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of S.Tirupathi Rao V. M.Lingamaiah and others reported in 2024 SCC online 1764, it is held that Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, being a specific provision, the Contempt Petition has to be filed within one year when the cause of action arisen.

4. In fact, this Court by order dated 28.11.2025 in Cont.P.Nos.2599 and 3033 of 2025 and by order dated 12.09.2025 in Cont.P.No.2706 of 2025 had considered the scope of Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (for short ‘Act 1971’) and Article 215 of the Constitution of India and also as to what would constitute continuing cause of action. 5. Therefore, in the light of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the above referred case and the decision rendered by this Court in Cont.P.Nos.2599 and 3033 of 2025 dated 28.11.2025, this Court is of the view that the present Contempt Petition as filed by the petitioner is hit 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 by delay and latches, since, the Order in the Writ Petition was passed on 05.07.2022. Despite the fact that the order was uploaded on the High Court Webportal on 07.09.2022, the petitioner chose to file this Contempt Petition nearly after a delay of two years, i.e. on 05.09.2024. 6. Therefore, having regard to the decision of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the S.Tirupathi Rao V. M.Lingamaiah and others (cited supra) and this Court as noted herein above, the present Contempt Petition cannot be entertained, for the same having been filed beyond the limitation prescribed under the Act, 1971. 7. Accordingly, this Contempt Petition is dismissed. No costs. 25.06.2026 sd 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 T.Vinod Kumar,J., sd Contempt Petition No.2985 of 2024

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Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS Dated : 25.06.2026 Coram The Hon’ble Mr.Justice T.Vinod Kumar Contempt Petition No.2985 of 2024 T.Manivachagan ...Petitioner Vs. 1. Mr.A.Annadurai, I.A.S. Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., Head Office, Kilpauk, Chennai – 10. 2. Mr.P.Ravi Regional Manager (In-charge) Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd., Salem Region, Salem. ..Respondents Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for wilful and intentional disobedience to the Order of the Court in W.P.No.18844 of 2018 dated 05.07.2022. For Petitioner : M/s.R.Deepika Sonali for M/s.M.Muthappan For Respondents : Mr.C.P.Gowtham. Government Advocate ORDER This Contempt Petition is filed to punish the respondents for willfully disobeying the orders of this Court in W.P.No.18844 of 2018 dated 05.07.2022. 1/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 2. At the outset, this Court would like to point out that Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 prescribes the limitation of one year for initiating contempt proceedings. 3. Further, it is noted that as per the law declared by the Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of S.Tirupathi Rao V. M.Lingamaiah and others reported in 2024 SCC online 1764, it is held that Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, being a specific provision, the Contempt Petition has to be filed within one year when the cause of action arisen.

4. In fact, this Court by order dated 28.11.2025 in Cont.P.Nos.2599 and 3033 of 2025 and by order dated 12.09.2025 in Cont.P.No.2706 of 2025 had considered the scope of Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (for short ‘Act 1971’) and Article 215 of the Constitution of India and also as to what would constitute continuing cause of action. 5. Therefore, in the light of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the above referred case and the decision rendered by this Court in Cont.P.Nos.2599 and 3033 of 2025 dated 28.11.2025, this Court is of the view that the present Contempt Petition as filed by the petitioner is hit 2/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 by delay and latches, since, the Order in the Writ Petition was passed on 05.07.2022. Despite the fact that the order was uploaded on the High Court Webportal on 07.09.2022, the petitioner chose to file this Contempt Petition nearly after a delay of two years, i.e. on 05.09.2024. 6. Therefore, having regard to the decision of the Hon’ble Apex Court in the S.Tirupathi Rao V. M.Lingamaiah and others (cited supra) and this Court as noted herein above, the present Contempt Petition cannot be entertained, for the same having been filed beyond the limitation prescribed under the Act, 1971. 7. Accordingly, this Contempt Petition is dismissed. No costs. 25.06.2026 sd 3/4 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis Cont.P.No.2985 of 2024 T.Vinod Kumar,J., sd Contempt Petition No.2985 of 2024

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