S DHARMARAJ Vs. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Two writ petitions have been filed. Both for almost the same relief, namely, a direction to conduct a comprehensive enquiry into the acts of abuse of power for personal gains by the 2nd respondent in W.P. (MD) No. 11617 of 2009, who is the 5th respondent in W.P. (MD) No. 13637 of 2009. The petitioner in W.P. (MD) No. 11617 of 2009 is a Councillor of Sattur Panchayat Union, while the petitioner in W.P. (MD) No. 13637 of 2009 is an advocate and a Honorary Reporter of a magazine called "Paraparappu Seithi". Both these writ petitions have been filed as public interest litigations.

(2.) We will refer to the 2nd/5th respondent as "Officer" for the sake of convenience.

(3.) The Officer is at present the Chairman of TAFCORN, a Public Sector Undertaking. Previously, he was the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. He had attained superannuation on 30.11.2009. According to the petitioners, he had committed scandalous and gross misconduct and he goes scot-free on his superannuation, if no interference is made. According to the petitioners, a detailed probe would open one of the books scams/frauds committed by any public officer. The grievance is that the 1 st respondent had not taken seriously any complaint received against the Of- ficer, because he is equally in the rank of Chief Secretary and for obvious reason, the 1 st respondent is showing restraint in taking action.