Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 12-10-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: Capt. S. Dinakara (Employment No. 608106), former Dy. General Manager, Air India Ltd., residing at No.91, Chamiers Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai‑28.
  • Respondents: 1) Union of India represented by Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, SAFDARJUNG Airport, New Delhi; 2) Air India Ltd., represented by its Chairman & Managing Director; 3) Executive Director (OPS), Airlines House, SAFDARJUNG Airport, New Delhi; 4) Executive Director, Air India Ltd., Southern Region, Meenambakkam Airport, Chennai‑27; 5) General Manager (OPS) Operations Department, Air India Ltd., Meenambakkam Airport, Chennai‑27.
  • WP No. 23429 of 2015: Petition under Article 226 seeking a writ of Certiorari to quash a disciplinary order dated 31‑05‑2013/01‑07‑2013 (Ref. SR/ED/DISC/OPS/608106/2563) and to declare it illegal, malafide, violative of natural justice and beyond jurisdiction.
  • WP No. 23431 of 2015: Petition under Article 226 seeking a writ of Mandamus directing respondents, particularly the 4th and 5th respondents, to dispose of the petitioner’s grievance petition dated 22‑05‑2015 and to order payment of Rs 1,54,67,262/- with interest.
  • The court noted that the maintainability of writ petitions against the respondents had been previously considered, citing the Supreme Court’s decision in R.S. Madireddy and others v. Union of India (2024 SCC Online SC 965) dated 16‑09‑2025, which held that after Air India’s conversion from a public‑sector airline to a private‑sector airline, the respondents could not be deemed a ‘State’ within the meaning of Article 12.
  • Consequently, the court held that no mandamus could be issued under Article 226 against the respondents.

Final Outcome

  • The writ petitions (WP 23429 and WP 23431 of 2015) are dismissed.
  • The petitioners’ rights against the impugned disciplinary proceedings are preserved; they may approach the appropriate forum for relief.
  • If the petitioners initiate action in the appropriate forum and show sufficient cause, the period from filing of the writ petitions on 23‑04‑2021 to the receipt of this order will be excluded from limitation under Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
  • No order as to costs; connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

Topics: Writ Petition, Airline Privatization, Judicial Review