Invoking the teachings of Prophet Muhammad—“pay the worker before his sweat dries”—the Madras High Court has directed a municipal corporation to settle long-pending legal dues owed to a former counsel. The court observed that this principle reflects basic fairness and applies equally to labour and service-related disputes.
Justice G. R. Swaminathan made the observation while hearing a petition filed by advocate P. Thirumalai, who claimed that the Madurai City Municipal Corporation failed to pay him legal fees amounting to ₹13.05 lakh. Earlier, the High Court had asked the corporation to consider his representation. However, a later order rejected a major portion of his claim, prompting the present petition.
The court allowed Thirumalai to approach the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and submit a list of cases in which he had appeared. It also directed the corporation to settle the verified fee bills within two months, without interest. The court noted that the petitioner had waited nearly 18 years before challenging the non-payment and that the corporation could not be fully blamed, as the fee bills were not submitted properly.
‘A Matter of Embarrassment’
Justice Swaminathan described it as a “matter of embarrassment” that the State has nearly a dozen Additional Advocate Generals. He observed that appointing too many law officers often leads to unnecessary allocation of work and frequent adjournments, as government counsel claim that senior officers are engaged elsewhere.
He expressed hope that such practices would end at least in the Madurai Bench of the High Court and added that Additional Advocate Generals should “turn a new leaf” from 2026 onwards.
‘Scandalously High Amounts’
While stating that the court cannot examine the exact fees paid to senior counsel or law officers, Justice Swaminathan stressed that good governance requires public funds to be used prudently. He expressed concern over the “scandalously high amounts” paid by government and quasi-government bodies to a few favoured law officers.
In contrast, the court noted that Thirumalai’s total claim was “a pittance” considering the large number of cases he had handled.
Background
Thirumalai served as the standing counsel for the Madurai City Municipal Corporation for more than 14 years, from 1992 to 2006. During this period, he represented the corporation in about 818 cases before the Madurai District Courts.
As the former counsel was unable to hire a clerk to obtain certified copies of judgments in all 818 cases, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority to collect the certified copies within two months. The court further ordered the corporation to bear the cost incurred by the DLSA and deduct that amount from the final settlement payable to the petitioner.
Comments
EasySMS world wide web API enables you tto construct blog that cokuld deliver TEXT MESSAGE.
Utilize typicql web languages to construct applications of which talk with global TEXT
MESSAGE insurers. No requirement to concern yourself with sophisticated SMPP machines
or even hosting SMS servers. Only send out us ones emails employing our own clear distinct API message or calls and we'll produce tthe item
available for you rapidly along with post anyonne returning confirmations or
perhaps replies.
EasySMS iis really a head operating sendinng text messages answers.
Their particular status is made on technological experience,
marketplace knowledge, excellent supoort along with program dependability.
Coming from largye TEXT MESSAGE as well ass computer TEXT to be able to SMS API gateways.
Here is mmy blog :: service. (easysms.4simple.org: https://easysms.4simple.org/api_documentation)
Add new comment