P.Lakshmi v. The District Collector

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 10-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR W.P.No.31277 of 2025 and W.M.P.No.35007 of 2025 P.Lakshmi ... Petitioner -vs1. The District Collector, Villupuram District, Villupuram - 605 602.

2. The Principal District Judge, Principal District Court, Villupuram District - 605 602.

3. The Joint Director of Health Services, Villupuram - 605 602.

4. The District Treasury Officer District Treasury, Villupuram - 605 601

5. The Authorised Officer, United India Insurance Co. Ltd., LBO010600, Silingi Buildings, 134, Greams Road, Chennai - 600 006.

... Respondents Prayer: To call for the records on the file of the 5th Respondent in reference No.010600/CRS-378/10/2024 dated 29.11.2024 and the order of the 3rd Respondent in Na.Ka.No.2012/Ka.3/2025 dated 21.04.2025 and quash the same and consequently direct the respondents to reimburse the medical bills of Rs.1,25,292/- with interest of 9%.

For Petitioner:

Mr.N.Palanikumar For Respondents:

Dr.R.Gouri, Govt. Counsel for R1,3 & 4, Ms.B.Poongkhulali for R2, Mr.N.Venkatraman For M/s.Nageswaran & Narichania for R5 *****

O R D E R

(Order of the Court was made by S.M.Subramaniam J.) Writ on hand has been instituted, challenging the order dated 29.11.2024 passed by United India Insurance Co. Ltd., and the subsequent order 21.04.2025 passed by Joint Director of Health Services, regarding claim of medical reimbursement.

2. Petitioner is working as Assistant at Principal District Court, Villupuram. She is a member of New Health Insurance Scheme and monthly subscription is being recovered from her salary. Under Scheme, Identity Card card was issued by United India Insurance Co. Ltd., with which Government has entered into a contract for reimbursement of medical claim of Government Servants.

3. Petitioner was admitted at E.S.Hospital, Villupuram on 30.03.2024 for the treatment of closed distal femur fracture right (Muller type A1) rheumatoid arthritis and discharged on 04.04.2024. She had submitted an application, seeking medical reimbursement, which was

received by Joint Director of Health Services on 09.04.2025. However, even before submitting the said application, treatment taken by petitioner was intimated to United India Insurance Co. Ltd., in the year 2024 itself. Therefore, it is not as if petitioner had not informed about treatment taken by her in April, 2024.

4. At the first instance, petitioner informed about the treatment taken by her to United India Insurance Co. Ltd., who in turn advised her to place the application before District Level Committee for consideration. Thus, application has been submitted subsequently on 08.04.2025 to the Joint Director of Health Services, which was received on 09.04.2025. Therefore, reason stated in the order passed by Joint Director of Health Services that there is a delay in submitting application, is unacceptable.

5. In respect of claim for medical reimbursement, it cannot be rejected on the said ground, since in the present case, petitioner had already informed about her treatment to concerned Authorities of United India Insurance Co. Ltd. Thus, reason stated in the order dated 21.04.2025 passed by Joint Director of Health Services is not in accordance with law and application submitted by petitioner ought to have been placed before District Level Committee for consideration.

6. In view of the above facts and circumstances, the present writ petition is allowed. The impugned orders are set aside. Joint Director of Health Services / R3 is directed to place medical reimbursement application submitted by petitioner before District Level Committee, which in turn shall consider the same on its own merits and pass appropriate orders within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

(S.M.S.,J.) (N.S.,J.) 10-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order AR To:

1. The District Collector, Villupuram District, Villupuram - 605 602.

2. The Principal District Judge, Principal District Court, Villupuram District - 605 602.

3. The Joint Director of Health Services, Villupuram - 605 602.

4. The District Treasury Officer District Treasury, Villupuram - 605 601

5. The Authorised Officer, United India Insurance Co. Ltd., LBO010600, Silingi Buildings, 134, Greams Road, Chennai - 600 006.

S.M.SUBRAMANIAM,J.

AND N.SENTHILKUMAR,J.

AR 10-06-2026