A.Rosemary v. The Principal Secretary To
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 22-04-2019
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM W.P.No.8810 of 2018 and W.M.P.No.10680 of 2018 1.A.Rosemary 2.P.Jothimani 3.R.Valliyathal 4.K.Santhamani 5.R.Manimekalai 6.V.Mariammal 7.R.Dhanalakshmi 8.R.Vasanthi 9.T.Sumathi 10.V.Valarmathi 11.N.Parimalagandhi 12.P.Chitrakalavathi 13.K.Nagarathinam 14.A.Rameshwari 15.K.Thilagamani 16.P.Valarmathi 17.P.Radhamani 18.K.Angayarkanni 19.M.Pushpa 20.T.Manchuladevi 21.K.G.Kala 22.S.Lakshmi 23.B.Kanagavalli 24.P.Palanthal 25.E.Saraswathi 26.V.Ganambal 27.S.Karpagarani 28.P.Pushpam 29.N.Sarojini 30.M.Eswaran ..
Petitioners ..Vs..
1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Handloom, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department, Fort St.George,
2.The Secretary to Government, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department, Fort St. George, 3.The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai.
4.The Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Coimbatore Commercial Taxes Division, Coimbatore.
.. Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorari, calling for the records pertaining to the impugned letter of the first respondent in Letter No.2928/ F1/2016-8 dated 19.12.2017 and quash the same as illegal and unlawful.
For Petitioners : Mr.J.Pooventhera Rajan For Respondents : Mr.V.Hari Babu, Additional Government Pleader (Taxes).
O R D E R
The grievances of the writ petitioners are that the Special Grade benefits granted to the writ petitioners are sought to be recovered by way of letter dated 19.12.2017, without even issuing a show cause notice and opportunity to the writ petitioners.
2. Though the learned counsel for the writ petitioners made a submission in respect of the merits of the case, this Court is of an opinion that the same ought to be adjudicated by the Competent Authorities only after receiving the explanation / objections from the aggrieved employees. It is an established principle that an order effecting the service rights and conditions of the employees cannot be issued without providing an opportunity to all such employees.
3. In the present case on hand, the respondents are unable to establish that such an opportunity was provided or show cause notice was issued to these writ petitioners and therefore, it is a fit case for remand. Accordingly, the impugned order passed by the first respondent in Letter No.2928/F1/2016-8 dated 19.12.2017 is quashed.
4. The respondents are directed to issue show cause notice to all the writ petitioners within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt of the show cause notice, the writ petitioners are directed to submit their objections / explanations along with the relevant orders or documents within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the show cause notice thereafter. The Competent Authorities shall consider the records and materials available and accordingly pass order on merits and in accordance with law within a period of twelve weeks thereafter.
5. Accordingly, the writ petition stands allowed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. -sdAssistant Registrar /TRUE COPY/ Sub Assistant Registrar Svn To 1.The Principal Secretary to Government, Handloom, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department, Fort St. George, 2.The Secretary to Government, Commercial Taxes and Registration Department, Fort St. George, 3.The Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai.
4.The Joint Commissioner of Commercial Taxes, Coimbatore Commercial Taxes Division, Coimbatore.
+1 CC to M/S.J.POOVENTHERARAJAN Advocate SR.NO.39273 +1 CC to M/S.The Special Govt.Pleader (Taxes).NO.39014 W.P.No.8810 of 2018 GJIT(CO) cm 25/06/2019