[Judgment of the Court was made by T.S.SIVAGNANAM, J.] Heard Mr.K.Seemaraj, learned counsel appearing for the appellants and Mr.VR.Shanmuganathan, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.
2.This Writ Appeal has been filed by the writ petitioners, challenging the order passed in W.P.(MD) No.16514 of 2013 dated 07.10.2013.
3.The said writ petition challenged the order of suspension dated 27.08.2013, passed against the appellants on the ground that criminal case has been registered under Section 24 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act. The Writ Court dismissed the writ petition on the ground that a criminal case has been registered against the appellants and hence there is no error in the order of suspension.
4.The present appeal is pending since 2013. It is not known whether the order of suspension has been revoked as on date and as well as the fate of the criminal case. If the suspension is not yet revoked, then it is a prolonged suspension, which has been deprecated by the Courts. Hence, we are inclined to pass appropriate directions.
5.Accordingly, this Writ Appeal is allowed and the impugned order dated 07.10.2013 is set aside and the respondents are directed to review the order of suspension, if not already done, and reinstate the petitioners, subject to the out come of the criminal case and post them in a non-sensitive and a far of place. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
To
1.The District Manager (In-charge), Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd., Virudhunagar District.
2.The Regional Manager, Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd., 100, Anna Salai, Madurai..