P.Jeeva v. The Government Of Tamilnadu
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 26.02.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P.Nos.33686, 35257, 35412 of 2023 & 4524 of 2024 W.P.No.33686 of 2023 1.P.Jeeva 2.P.Ganesan 3.R.Balamani 4.A.Kannamma 5.N.Loganathan 6.M.Kamala 7.S.Vasantha 8.P.Abirami 9.N.Lakshmi 10.S.Selvamani 11.N.Senkuttuvan 12.B.S.Kanthamaran 13.K.Elilarasi 14.T.Ramamani 15.A.Saroja 16.G.Marudaiyan 17.A.Victoria 18.K.Muthukrishnan 19.R.Indrani 20.S.Valarmathi 21.S.Hema 22.R.Chandran 23.M.Subramaniyam 24.V.Prakasam 25.P.V.Rajasekaran 26.A.Sharbunisha
27.D.Sundari 28.V.Mythili 29.S.Saroji 30.A.Sulochana 31.D.Salath Mary 32.S.Madasamy 33.N.Muthulakshmi 34.A.Rajappan 35.K.Shanmugathai 36.G.Shanmugathai 37.R.Ramamoorthi 38.S.Thurairaj 39.K.Alagammal 40.G.Sarasu 41.N.Pushpa 42.R.Rathinam 43.R.Babu 44.G.G.Nathan 45.N.Kousalya 46.M.Padmavathi 47.T.Thilagavathi 48.M.Danikachalam 49.V.Savithiri 50.R.Anusuya Devi 51.S.Elizabeth 52.K.Padmavathi 53.N.Dhandapani 54.M.Krishnasamy 55.Lakshmi 56.K.Arumugam 57.Joyce Manohari 58.M.S.Revathi 59.G.Usha 60.C.Solachi 61.N.Ganapathi 62.Vani Saraswathi 63.S.Jeyalakshmi 64.K.Kalaavathi .....
Petitioners
Vs
1. The Government of Tamil Nadu represented by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai - 600 035.
....
Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned orders of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.13682/R2/2020 dated 26.08.2021 and quash the same in so far as it restricts the monetary benefits consequent on the restoration of seniority and promotion on par with petitioner's junior Mr.P.Srinivasan with effect from 05.10.1990 to pensionary benefits alone and thereby denies monetary benefits for the period prior to the date of retirement and direct the respondents to grant monetary benefits from 05.10.1990 to their respective dates of retirement. W.P.No.35257 of 2023 1.A.Gunathilagam 2.C.Jesintha .....
Petitioners Vs
1. The Government of Tamil Nadu represented by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai - 600 035.
3.The Joint Director, Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai - 600 035.
....
Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to grant us promotion as Assistant with reference to the revised seniority list issued by the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.19646/R2/2016 dated 01.08.2018 and with effect from 05.10.1990, the date on whioch our junior Mr.P.Srinivasan was promoted and grant us all consequential benefits. W.P.No.35412 of 2023 1.D.Bakyalakshmi 2.C.Geetha 3.R.Malarvizhi 4.K.Rajammal 5.R.Gurunathan 6.S.A.Malarvizhi 7.R.Neelavathi 8.G.Krishnaveni .....
Petitioners Vs
1. The Government of Tamil Nadu represented by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai - 600 035.
.....
Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to grant the petitioners promotion as Assistant with reference to the revised seniority list issued by the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.19646/R2/2016 dated 01.08.2018 with effect from the respective dates of passing the departmental tests and grant them all consequential benefits.
W.P.No.4524 of 2024 1.S.A.Ramaiah 2.A.Uma Maheswari 3.C.Santhanamary Abishehamani 4.S.Raziya Begum 5.S.Subbaiah 6.K.Rose Mary 7.M.Nithyakalyani 8.V.Veeraiah 9.M.Ambiga 10.M.M.Senthamarai Selvi 11.T.R.Gunasekaran 12.B.Krishnamoorthy .....
Petitioners Vs
1. The Government of Tamil Nadu represented by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai - 600 035.
.....
Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records
relating to the impugned orders of the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.13682/R2/2020 dated 28.10.2021 and Na.KA.No.13682/R2/20204,9,5,7,3,10 dated 25.10.2021 and quash the said orders and direct the respondents to grant the petitioners promotion as Assistant with reference to the revised seniority list issued by the second respondent in Na.Ka.No.19646/R2/2016 dated 01.08.2018 with effect from the respective date of passing the departmental tests and grant them all consequential benefits. In all W.Ps For Petitioners : Mr.P.Manoj Kumar For Respondents : Mr.V.Veluchamy Additional Government Pleader COMMON
ORDER
W.P.No.4524 of 2024 has been filed challenging the order passed by the second respondent dated 25.10.2021 & 28.10.2021, thereby rejected the request made by the petitioners for promotion as Assistant with reference to the revised seniority list.
2. W.P.Nos.35257 & 35412 of 2023 have been filed for direction directing the respondents to promote the petitioners to the post of Assistant as per the revised seniority list dated 01.08.2018.
3. W.P.No.33686 of 2023 has been filed challenging the order passed by the second respondent dated 26.08.2021 thereby rejected the request made by the petitioners seeking promotion on par with their junior with effect from 05.10.1990.
4. The issue in all the writ petitions are one and the same. Therefore, this Court is inclined to pass a common order.
5. The petitioners in all the writ petitions were appointed before 25.06.1984 as Junior Assistants/Typists/Steno Typists temporarily under Rule 10(a) (1) of the Tamil Nadu State and Subordinate Services Rules. In the year 1984, the Government of Tamil Nadu issued orders in G.O.Ms.No.996, P and AR Department, dated 22.09.1984, ordering that all the temporary Junior Assistants, Typists and Steno Typists who were in service on 25.06.1984 be regularised with effect from 25.06.1984. Accordingly, their services were regularised with effect from 25.06.1984 as Special Absorption candidates. Subsequently, G.O.Ms.No.548, P and AR Department, dated 19.06.1987, has been issued for fixation of seniority and other service condition for the Special Absorption candidates. It was given effect from 25.06.1984. The post of
Junior Assistants, Typists and Steno Typists were also filled up on compassionate grounds. In respect of those candidates who were appointed on compassionate ground, the Government of Tamil Nadu issued orders in G.O.Ms.No.951, P and AR Department, dated 14.09.1984 with regard to fixation of seniority. Accordingly, their seniority has to be fixed with reference to the year of selection of Tamil Nadu Public Service commission and their seniority has to be fixed inter-se on the date of appointment of the candidates selected by the Service Commission.
6. Therefore, there were three sets of candidates viz., (i) candidates selected by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission in November, 1983. (ii) Special Absorption candidates whose services were regularised with effect from 25.06.1984 and (iii) candidates who were appointed on compassionate grounds. There was dispute among them while fixation of their seniority. Finally, the issue was settled by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Civil Appeal No.9417-9418 of 1985 and accordingly, those who were selected in the competitive examination held in the year 1983 were placed above the Special Absorption candidates whose services were regularised with effect from 25.06.1984. Insofar as those who
were appointed on compassionate ground after the appointment of the Special Absorption candidates are concerned, they were placed below the Special Absorption candidates.
7. In the meanwhile, one Mr.P.Srinivasan, who was appointed on compassionate ground on 16.10.1984, was placed above the Special Absorption candidates. It was challenged before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. Finally, the Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai, issued a revised seniority list on 01.08.2018. Accordingly, their seniority was correctly fixed and the compassionate ground appointees, who were appointed after 25.06.1984, were correctly placed below the Special Absorption candidates. Though the persons whose services were regularised as Special Absorption candidates were placed above the said Mr.P.Srinivasan, the petitioners were not placed above the said Mr.P.Srinivasan on the ground that the petitioners did not pass the departmental test as on 15.03.1989. They passed the department tests only on 15.03.1989. Therefore, their names were not included in the revised panel for promotion as Assistant as on 15.03.1989.
8. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that though the petitioner had not passed the department tests before 15.03.1989, within a short period after 15.03.1989, all the petitioners passed their departmental tests. Therefore, they became eligible for inclusion in the promotion panel.
9. A perusal of the records reveals that admittedly all the petitioners were absorbed as Special Absorption candidates and their services were regularised with effect from 25.06.1984 as per the Government Order in G.O.Ms.No.996, P and AR Department, dated 22.09.1984. As per the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, after rectification of seniority, the panel for promotion to the post of Assistant as on 15.03.1989 was published by the second respondent on 01.08.2018. However, the petitioners did not pass their departmental tests before 15.03.1989 and as such, their names were not included in the panel for promotion to the post of Assistant as on 15.03.1989. Therefore, this Court finds no infirmity or illegality in the orders passed by the second respondent. Thus, all the writ petitions are devoid of merits and are liable to be dismissed.
10. Accordingly, all the writ petitions stand dismissed. No costs. 26.02.2024 Internet: Yes Index : Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking order Lpp To
1. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600 009.
2.The Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai - 600 035.
3.The Joint Director, Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Chennai - 600 035.
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J, Lpp W.P.Nos.33686, 35257, 35412 of 2023 & 4524 of 2024 26.02.2024