Uma Murali v. The State Of Tamil Nadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 24-04-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI Uma Murali W/o. Murali Venkatakrishnan, C 803 Radiance Mandarin No.1, 200 Feet Radial Road, VTC. Oggiam Thuraipakkam, Shllinganallur Kancheepuram -600 097 ..Petitioner(s) Vs
1. The State of Tamil nadu Rep. by its Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009
2. The Director of School Education, D.P.I. Complex, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 006
3. The Chief Educational Officer Having Office at.
Presidency Girls Government Higher Secondary School Campus, Cengu Reddy Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008
4. The correspondent Kumararani Meena Muthiah Matriculation Higher Secondary School, No.4, Crescent Avenue Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-600 020 ..Respondent(s)
Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to disburse the Gratuity Amount with 12 percent interest to the petitioner thereof by considering the Petitioners representation dated 10.03.2026 and thus render justice For Petitioner(s):
Mr.M.Mahamani For Respondent(s):
Ms.Mythreye Chandru, SGP for R1 to R3
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the respondents to disburse the Gratuity Amount with 12 percent interest to the petitioner thereof by considering the petitioner's representation dated 10.03.2026.
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side. With the consent of both sides, the present Writ Petition is taken up for hearing at the admission stage itself. Since no adverse order is to be passed as against the fourth respondent herein, notice to the fourth respondent is dispensed with.
3. It is the case of the petitioner that the she is a retired teacher, who had put in service for nearly 20 years i.e., from 01.06.2002 to 29.04.2022, however, the statutory gratuity was not disbursed to the petitioner as per the amendment of Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, wherein it has expressed that teachers are covered within the definition of 'employee' with retrospective effect and the
same was also upheld by the Hon'ble Apex Court, as well as this Court. Due to non disbursement of the gratuity amount, the petitioner made several requests including an application as well as a detailed representation dated 19.01.2026 & 10.03.2026 respectively, however the same evoked no response and hence, the present Writ Petition.
4. In view of the limited prayer sought for by the petitioner in this Writ Petition, there shall be a direction to the third respondent to consider the petitioner's representation dated 10.03.2026 and to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
5. With the above direction, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
24-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DP
To
1. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009
2. The Director of School Education, D.P.I. Complex, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 006
3. The Chief Educational Officer Having Office at Presidency Girls Government Higher Secondary School Campus, Cengu Reddy Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008
M.DHANDAPANI, J.
DP 24-04-2026