Farida Begam v. The Puducherry Government,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Farida Begam W/o. Late. A. Nasib Ali, No. 2/ 269A, E.C.R. Main Road, Koonimedu, Tindivanam Taluk, Villupuram District - 604303 ..Petitioner(s) Vs

1. The Puducherry Government, Rep. by The Chief Secretary to Government, Chief Secretariat Buildings, Puducherry - 605001Pudhucherry.

2. The Secretary to Government, Home Department, Chief Secretariat Buildings, Puducherry - 605001

3. The Secetary to Government, Finance Department, Chief Secretariat Buildings, Puducherry - 605001

4. The Secretary to Government, Law Department, Chief Secretariat Buildings, Puducherry - 605001

5. The Chairman, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, Madras High Court Buildings, Chennai - 600104

6. Advocates Association, Pondicherry.(R6 Suo-motu Impleaded As Per Order Dt 21/11/2019 made in WP.17976/2019 By NKKJ, RPAJ)

7. The Principal Secretary to

Government, Government of Tamilnadu, Finance Department, Fort St.George, Chennai.600 009.

8. The Secretary To Government, Government Of Tamil Nadu, Law Department, Fort St.George, Chennai.600 009.

(R7 and R8 are suo motu Impleaded as per Order dated 03.06.2024 in WP.17976/2019 by SMSJ and CKJ)

9. Puducherry Bar Association, Represented by the President, District Court Buildings, Puducherry 605 001. 10.Karaikal Bar Association, Represented by the President, Karaikal Court Buildings.

11.Mahe Bar Association, Represented by the President, Mahe Court Buildings.

12.Yanam Bar Association, Represented by the President, Yanam Court Buildings.

13.Inhabitants Puducherry Advocates Welfare Association, Reg. S.No.141 of 2021, IPAWA, District Court Buildings, Puducherry, Represented by the General Secretary, M.Sivasubramanian.

(R9 to R13 are impleaded as per order dated 03.06.2024 in WMP.26690/2021 in WP.17976/2019 by SMSJ and CKJ) ..Respondent(s) To direct R1 to R5 to implement and enforce The Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2001 to Pudhcerry Union territory in accordance with Puducherry LA GAZETTE DE L ETAT vide in G.O.Ms. No. 14/ 2008-LD., dated 02.07.2008 and R1 to R5 pay a compensation of Rs. 25,00,000/- to the petitioner with costs.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.C.Elangovan For Respondent(s):

Dr.B.Ramaswamy, Addl.G.P.(Puducherry) for R1 to R4 Mr.C.K.Chandrasekar for R5 Mr.T.Chandrasekaran, Spl.G.P. for R7 & R8 Order (Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.) In view of the fact that substantial settlement has already been made under the Advocate Welfare Scheme, the balance claims are to be settled in the order of seniority as expeditiously as possible.

2. In view of the said position, no further order is required in this writ petition.

3. At this juncture, learned counsel for the petitioner has alleged that none of the Advocates from Pondicherry has been admitted as members under the Welfare Fund Scheme.

4. The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is directed to verify the same and initiate all appropriate actions to ensure that eligible Advocates are admitted and the benefits due to them are settled. (S.M.S.,J.) (C.K.,J.) 17-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VSI

To

1. The Chief Secretary to Government The Puducherry Government, Puducherry - 605001Pudhucherry

2. The Secretary to Government, Home Department, Chief Secretariat Buildings, Puducherry - 605001

3. The Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Chief Secretariat Buildings, Puducherry - 605001

4. The Secretary to Government, Law Department, Chief Secretariat Buildings, Puducherry - 605001

5. The Chairman, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, Madras High Court Buildings, Chennai - 600104

6. Advocates Association, Pondicherry.

7. The Principal Secretary to Government, Government of Tamilnadu, Finance Department, Fort St.George, Chennai.600 009.

8. The Secretary To Government, Government of Tamil Nadu, Law Department, Fort St.George, Chennai.600 009.

9. The President, Puducherry Bar Association, District Court Buildings, Puducherry 605 001. 10.The President Karaikal Bar Association, Karaikal Court Buildings.

11.The President, Mahe Bar Association, Mahe Court Buildings.

12.The President, Yanam Bar Association, Yanam Court Buildings.

13.Mr.M.Sivasubramanian, The General Secretary, Inhabitants Puducherry Advocates Welfare Association, Reg. S.No.141 of 2021, IPAWA, District Court Buildings, Puducherry, .

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM J.

AND C.KUMARAPPAN J.

VSI and WMP No. 26690 of 2021 17-04-2026