Madras HC Dismisses 12 Women Police SIs’ Promotion Plea As Infructuous After Counsel Says They Were Terminated

The petitioners, Woman Sub-Inspectors of Police, sought to quash G.O. (Ms.) No. 534 dated 6 July 2009 and G.O. (Ms.) No. 439 dated 8 August 2011, and to obtain consideration and promotion to Inspector of Police with consequential benefits.

At the hearing, petitioners’ counsel submitted that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the petitioners while the writ petition was pending, that they had been terminated from service, and that the termination orders were challenged in a separate pending writ petition. Counsel accordingly submitted that this petition had become infructuous.

The petition was brought under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking certiorarified mandamus.

The Court disposed of it on the petitioners’ counsel’s submission that it had become infructuous, without deciding the underlying promotion claims or stating a separate legal rule.

The Court recorded counsel’s submission that the petitioners had been terminated and that the termination orders were the subject of a separate pending writ petition.

On that basis, counsel stated that the present petition had become infructuous. The Court accepted that submission and did not examine the validity of the Government Orders, the petitioners’ promotion claims, or the merits of the termination proceedings.

No costs were awarded, and no determination was made on the merits of the promotion claim.