Ajirath v. The District Collector
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 27-03-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA Ajirath W/o. Gangapatlu Engaiah No. 86 Kulakkrai Salai Kudisaikal, Saidapet, Chennai 15 ..Petitioner Vs
1. The District Collector District Collector Office, No. 62 Singaravelar Maligai, 4th Floor, Rajaji Salai, Parrys, Chennai - 600 001.
2. Aadhaar Seva Kendra First Floor, Ten Square Mall, 224- 228 , Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Koyambedu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600 107.
3. The Directorate of Pension Amma Complex, Veterinary Hospital Campus 3rd Floor, 571 Anna Salai, Nandanam Chennai - 600 035.
..Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1 to 3 respondents to consider the petitioners representation dated 29.10.2025 herein to verify the documents of the petitioner and her late husband and treat the names "Vengaiya" and "Gangapatlu Engaiah" as referring to the same individual being the deceased employee of the Greater Chennai Corporation to process , release and disburse the petitioners eligible family pension arrears and all consequential
benefits without insisting on further technical requirement arising out of the clerical/ spelling error in the petitioners Aadhaar card to rectify the Aadhaar entry of the petitioner in accordance with her supporting documents and to take necessary steps to update the offical records accordingly to pay the petitioner the withheld pension arrears along with applicable interest for the period of delay within a time frame stipulated by thisCourt and pass orders. For Petitioner:
Mr.B.Manikandan For Respondents:
Mr.P.Ganesan Additional Government Pleader for R1 & R3
ORDER
The writ petition has been filed seeking a mandamus to the respondents 1 to 3 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 29.10.2025 and to release and disburse the family pension which the petitioner is entitled, without insisting to produce the Aadhar Card of her husband, which has certain errors.
2. The petitioner would submit that her husband Gangapatlu Engaiah had served as Thoomai Paniyalar in the Greater Corporation Chennai for several years and had retired on 30.06.2005 on attaining the age of superannuation. He died on 26.02.2023 and therefore, the petitioner who is his wife, is entitled to receive the pensionary benefits. Despite the petitioner having submitted all required documents and completing necessary formalities, his pension has been withheld for the reason that there is a clerical error in the Aadhaar Card of his husband, where his name has been incorrectly shown as "Vengaiya" instead of
"Gangapatlu Engaiah". However, the other government records including the death certificate, voter ID, ration card and other supporting documents clearly show the petitioner's husband name as "Gangapatlu Engaiah".
3. The petitioner had approached the Aadhaar Seva Kendra , the second respondent herein and other authorities to rectify the same, however the correction process remains incomplete on account of certain technical issues. For no fault of her, the petitioner was made to run from pillar to post. Further the representation submitted by the petitioner before the Directorate of Pension seeking to release the family pension and arrears, was rejected insisting on correction in the Aadhar card of her husband. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.
4. Heard the learned counsel on either side and also perused the materials available on record.
5. The petitioner is the wife of "Gangapatlu Engaiah", the deceased employee of the Greater Chennai Corporation. She had submitted her application seeking disbursement of family pension, post the death of her husband, along with necessary documents. Her application has not been processed only on the ground that there is a spelling error in the Aadhaar card of her husband, where his name has been shown as " Vengaiah" whereas his name
shown in the other records is "Gangaptlu Engaiah".
6. A perusal of the documents filed along with this petition include the Pension Payment Order of the deceased Gangaptlu Engaiah, which bears the photograph of the deceased employee and the petitioner herein. In the proceedings of the Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai, dated 24.05.2005, it has been clearly stated that on the death of "Gangapatlu Engaiah", his wife Tmt.Husarathammal would be entitled to receive pension.
7. In the said circumstances, the 3rd respondent can confirm the identity of the petitioner by comparing it with the photograph in the Pension Payment Order of her husband Gangpatlu Engaiah and issue necessary orders without insisting on correction in the Aadhaar Card of her husband, submitted by her. The entries in the Aadhaar card could have been done by one of the staff of the second respondent and that could also be the reason for the spelling error. Therefore, the respondents need not stand on the technicalities, when there is a more authentic evidence in the form of photograph available at their end.
8. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed and a mandamus is issued to the 3rd respondent to consider the pension book of deceased Gangapatly Engaiah submitted by the petitioner wherein the petitioner's photograph as well as her name has been affixed, as his spouse. It is well open to the respondents to
confirm that the petitioner is the person who has been shown in the pension book of her husband, produced by her along with her representation seeking pension benefits and pass orders within a period of four weeks directing to disburse her family pension arrears along with interest. No costs. 27-03-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS To:
1. The District Collector District Collector Office No. 62 Singaravelar Maligai 4th Floor, Rajaji Salai, Parrys Chennai - 600 001.
2. Aadhaar Seva Kendra First Floor, Ten Square Mall, 224- 228 Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Koyambedu Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600 107.
3. The Directorate of Pension Amma Complex, Veterinary Hospital Campus 3rd Floor, 571 Anna Salai, Nandanam Chennai - 600 035.
P.T.ASHA J.
DS 27-03-2026