K.Saraswathi v. Dr.B.Chandramohan, Ias
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 25.08.2025 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANAND VENKATESH Contempt Petition Nos.1708, 1614, 1615, 1616, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1839 of 2025
1. K.Saraswathi ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1708 of 2025
2. A.Pankajam ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1614 of 2025
3. D.Vijayakumar ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1615 of 2025
4. K.Muthu ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1616 of 2025
5. M.Jagadeeswari ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1952 of 2025
6. G.Radhabai ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1953 of 2025
7. U.Ganesh ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1954 of 2025
8. N.Revathy ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1955 of 2025
9. C.Vijayalakshmi ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1956 of 2025 10.K.Hemalatha ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1957 of 2025 11.S.V.Kabila ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1958 of 2025 12.V.N.Vijayakumar ..
Petitioner in Cont.P.No.1839 of 2025 v.
1. Dr.B.Chandramohan, I.A.S., Principal Secretary to Government School Education Department Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
2. Tmt.N.Latha Director of Government Examinations Directorate of Government Examinations
College Road, Chennai 600 006
3. Tmt.K.Latha Deputy Director (Administration) of Government Examinations Directorate of Government Examinations College Road, Chennai 600 006 ..
Respondents 1 to 3 in all the Contempt Petitions
4. The Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Finance Department Fort St.George Chennai 600 009 ..
4th Respondent in Cont.P.Nos.
1952 to 1958 & 1839/2025 (R4 suo motu impleaded vide orders of Court dated 20.06.2025 in Cont.P.No.1839/2025 & dated 27.06.2025 in Cont.P.Nos.1952 to 1958/2025) Petitions filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 praying to punish the respondents for wilful disobedience of the orders dated 30.10.2024, 29.10.2024, 30.10.2024 made in W.P.Nos.30807, 30811, 30815, 30817, 29895, 29897, 29899, 29904, 29906, 29909, 29911, 30516 of 2024, respectively.
For Petitioners ::
Mr.K.Arumugam in Cont.P.Nos.1708, 1614 to 1616, 1952 to 1958 of 2025 Mr.R.Rajaram in Cont.P.No.1839/25 For Respondents ::
Mr.R.Neelakandan Additional Advocate General assisted by Mrs.S.Mythreye Chandru
Special Government Pleader for R1 to R3 Mr.Azizullakhan Government Advocate for R4 COMMON ORDER A common affidavit has been filed by the first respondent in all these contempt petitions. The relevant portions are extracted hereunder:- "10. It is respectfully submitted that pursuant to the retrospective regularisation, the petitioners' scales of pay have been notionally fixed with increments till their respective dates of retirement. In accordance with settled service law principles and the above reasoning on statutory relaxations, monetary benefits are granted only prospectively from the date of the Government Orders. Comparative statement in respect of pay drawn particulars before and after issuance of G.O Sl.
No.
NAME Date of Retirement Pay as on Date of Retirement Benefits as per G.O.
Pay DA Total Pay DA Total K.SARASWATHI 31.05.2013 13374 16866 A.PANKAJAM 30.07.2017 12371 21271 10740 14929 25669 D.VIJAYAKUMAR 31.03.2014 15320 19040 K.MUTHU 31.03.2015 16806 11085 20895 M.JAGADEESWARI 30.04.2013 13374 17172 G.RADHA BAI 31.05.2011 10570 13575 U.GANESH 30.06.2013 13374 17172
Sl.
No.
NAME Date of Retirement Pay as on Date of Retirement Benefits as per G.O.
Pay DA Total Pay DA Total N.REVATHI 31.07.2013 14117 18126 C.VIJAYALAKSHMI 31.05.2013 13374 17388 K.HEMALATHA 30.11.2013 14554 18354 11 S.V.KABILA 30.06.2013 13374 16866 V.N.VIJAYAKUMAR 31.03.2008 12069 Accordingly, their pensionary benefits have been fixed as on 24.07.2025 and 05.08.2025 respectively, with Dearness Allowance and Medical Allowance, as set out in the table below: NAME PAY Rs.
PENSION Rs.
DA Rs.
MA Rs.
TOTAL Rs.
K.SARASWATHI 12,468 A.PANKAJAM 10740 13,994 D.VIJAYAKUMAR 12,468 K.MUTHU 12,468 M.JAGADEESHWARI 12,468 G.RADHA BAI 12,468 U.GANESH 12,468 N.REVATHI 12,468 C.VIJAYALAKSHMI 12,468 K.HEMALATHA 12,468 S.V.KABILA 12,468 V.N.VIJAYAKUMAR 12,468
2. The main issue that has been raised is that the monetary benefits
ought to have been given to the petitioners from the date of their retirement and it cannot be given from the date of issuance of the Government Order. It is further submitted that the Government Order is completely silent about the other monetary retirement benefits that have to be given to the petitioners.
3. Per contra, the respondents have taken a stand that the relevant rules were relaxed and it was given only prospective effect and therefore, whatever monetary benefits have to be given, can be made operative only from the date of issuance of the Government Order.
4. It is true that while the writ petitions were disposed of by this Court, a direction was issued to the respondents to regularize the services and to grant all the monetary benefits. The regularization has taken place by virtue of the relaxation of the rules. Insofar as the monetary benefits are concerned, it is now under controversy as to whether they have to be given from the date of retirement or they have to be given only from the date of issuance of the Government Order.
5. The learned counsel for petitioners submitted that the operation of the Government Order prospectively will apply to the in-service candidates. However, when it comes to retired persons, it has to be necessarily applied from the date of their retirement, failing which they will not get any benefits.
6. Considering the limited scope of the contempt jurisdiction and also taking note of the fact that if any direction is given to the respondents to pay the monetary benefits from the date of retirement, it will tantamount to watering down the Government Order, it will be more appropriate for the petitioners to question the Government Order in the manner known to law. Except giving this liberty, no further orders can be passed in these contempt petitions. Accordingly, all these contempt petitions are closed. Index : yes/no 25.08.2025 ss To
1. The Principal Secretary to Government School Education Department Secretariat, Chennai 600 009
2. The Director of Government Examinations Directorate of Government Examinations College Road, Chennai 600 006
3. The Deputy Director (Administration) of Government Examinations Directorate of Government Examinations College Road, Chennai 600 006
4. The Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu Finance Department Fort St.George Chennai 600 009
N.ANAND VENKATESH,J.
ss 25.08.2025