Madras High CourtWA/1733/2017dismissed

Government Of Tamil Nadu v. S. Thillai Govindan

2018-02-13Honourable Mr Justice K.K. Sasidharan,Honourable Mr Justice P. Velmurugan3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 13.02.2018

CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.SASIDHARAN AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN W.A.No.1733 of 2017 and C.M.P.No.22147 of 2017 1.

Government of Tamil Nadu Represented by its Secretary Environment and Forest Department Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Having Office at Panagal Maaligai, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015.

The District Forest Officer Cuddalore, Cuddalore District.

The Accountant General of Tamil Nadu Office at D.M.S. Compound Teynampet, Chennai 600 018.

Government of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary Finance Department, Fort St.George Chennai 600 009.

...Appellants/Respondents Vs S.Thillai Govindan

...Respondent/Petitioner

Prayer:- Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent Act, to set aside the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.21502 of 2014 dated 11.08.2014.

W.P.No.21502 of 2014:- To issue Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 3 to count half of the service rendered by the petitioner as Plot Watcher on daily wage basis from 1.12.1982 till 5.1.2007 along with the regular service rendered by him as Forest Watcher from 6.1.2007 till the date of his retirement namely 28.2.2014 as qualifying service send the revised proposal to the 4th respondent grant pension to the petitioner with all consequential monetary benefits and pass further suitable orders

For Appellants : Mr.M.Santhanaraman Special Government Pleader (Forests) For Respondent : No appearance

JUDGMENT

(Judgment of the Court was delivered by K.K.SASIDHARAN, J.) The Writ Petition filed by the respondent for counting half of his earlier service rendered as Plot Watcher from 01 December 1982 to 05 January, 2007 for the purpose of fixing his pension was allowed by the learned Single Judge by following the earlier judgment in W.A.Nos.27 and 28 of 2012 dated 13 February, 2012, which was upheld by the Hon'ble Supreme Court by judgment dated 10 May, 2012 in SLP (Civil) Nos.14838 and 14839 of 2012.

2. The appellants were not prepared to consider the case of the respondent for counting the earlier service on account of Rule 11 Sub Clause (2) of the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978. The said Rule contained a cut off date, viz., 01 April, 2003. The said Rule was the subject matter in W.P.No.12656 of 2013. The learned Single Judge quashed the Rule by order dated 18 June, 2014. The order has become final.

3. There is no statutory provision prevailing as on today in view of quashing Rule 11 (2) of the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, 1978 to deny 50% of the past service to the employees. The learned Single Judge was therefore, perfectly correct in allowing the Writ Petition filed by the respondent by following the earlier order passed by the learned Single Judge, which was upheld by the Division Bench and the Hon'ble Supreme Court. We are, therefore, of the view that the appellants have not made out a case to interfere with the order passed by the learned Single Judge.

In the upshot, we dismiss the intra court appeal filed by the State. The appellants are directed to comply with the order passed by the learned Single Judge within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS VI) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar gms

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