Devi Ranjani, v. Dr.G.S.Sameeran, Ias., And 2 Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 29.08.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.KARTHIKEYAN Contempt Petition No. 2610 of 2025 in W.P.No.2213 of 2024 Devi Ranjani ...

Petitioner Vs.

1.Dr.G.S.Sameeran IAS., The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, E & C Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai -107.

2.Thiru.R.Balasubramanian, The Secretary and Personnel Officer, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, E & C Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai -107.

3.V.Sivasubramanian, The Deputy Chief Accounts Officer, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, E & C Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai -107.

... Respondents Prayer : This application has been filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts Act, praying to punish the respondents for committing contempt of Court by willfully disobeying the order passed in W.P. 2213 of 2024 dated 11.03.2025.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sivakumar For Respondents : Mr.V.Logesh Standing Counsel

O R D E R

The writ petition has been filed in the nature of a Certiorarified Mandamus seeking records relating to an order passed by the third respondent/the Deputy Chief Accounts Officer, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, dated 19.04.2021 and the subsequent order passed by the second respondent/the Secretary and Personnel Officer, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, dated 10.01.2024 and to quash the same. 2.The late husband of the petitioner was working as Executive Engineer and Administrative Officer of Tamil Nadu Housing Board, Chennai. He was permitted to retire on 01.05.1998 on attaining the age of superannuation. He subsequently died on 23.11.2005. The petitioner herein was eligible to draw family pension on and from 24.11.2005. The petitioner was sanctioned family pension of Rs.3,875/-. This was revised owing to the sixth and seventh Pay Commission to Rs.8,759/- from 01.01.2007 and to Rs.22,520/- from 01.10.2017 respectively. It is however found that the original pension which was sanctioned, namely, Rs.3,875/- was wrong and what the petitioner was eligible was Rs.3,585/-

. There was an excess of Rs.290/- paid every month. This had accrued over the passage of time to Rs.2,24,606/-. That was sought to be recovered by the respondents by the orders impugned in the writ petition. 3.This Court had however directed that there must be refund of the said amount of Rs.2,24,606/- holding that there was no justification for such recovery and it was also directed that appropriate interest should also be granted. This Court had stated that interest should be calculated from the date of retirement. But that observation may not be strictly correct since, the petitioner had started receiving the family pension on and from the date of death of her husband and the family pension which was paid was wrongly mentioned as Rs.3,875/- instead of Rs.3,585/-. It is now informed that the entire amount of Rs.2,24,606/- has also been repaid together with interest amounting to Rs.76,174/- and the amount had been paid by cheque dated 12.06.2025. It is therefore contended by the learned Standing Counsel for TNHB that there has been compliance of the directions of this Court.

4.The learned counsel for the petitioner still has his grievances, but however, the scope of the writ petition was only with respect to refund of Rs.2,24,606/- together with interest and the respondent has complied with that particular directions ordered in that writ petition. If the petitioner has still more grievances, the petitioner will have to work out those grievances in appropriate proceedings. There is one more issue which had raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner about the rate of interest calculated, which according to the petitioner is 7.1% and not 12%. As stated, the petitioner always has the right to raise any grievance in appropriate proceedings before the appropriate forum. 5.Accordingly, the contempt petition stands closed. No costs. 29.08.2025 sli

To 1.Dr.G.S.Sameeran IAS., The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, E & C Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai -107.

2.Thiru.R.Balasubramanian, The Secretary and Personnel Officer, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, E & C Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai -107.

3.V.Sivasubramanian, The Deputy Chief Accounts Officer, Tamil Nadu Housing Board, E & C Market Road, Koyambedu, Chennai -107.

C.V.KARTHIKEYAN, J.

sli 29.08.2025