D. Kannappan v. The Office Of The Accountant General (A And E)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 22-06-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA and WMP.Nos.4942 & 24657 of 2026 D. Kannappan 2/6 1st Cross Street, Lakshmipuram Velachery, Chennai-600 042 ..Petitioner Vs
1. The Office Of The Accountant General (A & E) Tamilnadu, 361, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 018.
2. The Secretary Stella Maris College Chennai-600 086.
3. The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Chennai Region, Anna Salai Saidapet, Chennai-600 015.
4. The Commissioner O/o. The Commissionerate of Stationery and Printing No.110, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
..Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling for the records pertaining to the proceedings in Na.E22/4/12231222/ADK/672 dated 07.05.2025 issued by the 1st Respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the 1st Respondent to sanction Invalid Pensionary Benefits to petitioner in the name of D. Kannappan without insisting Government Gazette Notification of Name Change from C. Thomas (nee) D. Kannappan to D. Kannappan or
D.Kannappan (nee) C. Thomas to C. Thomas or D. Kannappan to Kannapan Thomas or Thomas Kannappan and pass orders.
For Petitioner:
Mr.S.Patrick For Respondents:
Mr.P.Manorajan Standing Counsel for R1 Mr.A.R.Balaji Government Advocate for R3 & R4 Ms.H.Mary Sowmi Rexi of M/s.Isaac Chambers for R2
ORDER
The writ petition has been filed seeking the following relief : "To call for the records pertaining to the proceedings in Na.E22/4/12231222/ADK/672 dated 07.05.2025 issued by the 1st Respondent and quash the same and consequently direct the 1st Respondent to sanction Invalid Pensionary Benefits to petitioner in the name of D. Kannappan without insisting Government Gazette Notification of Name Change from C. Thomas (nee) D. Kannappan to D. Kannappan or D.Kannappan (nee) C. Thomas to C. Thomas or D. Kannappan to Kannapan Thomas or Thomas Kannappan."
2. The petitioner was born on 07.04.1948. The petitioner would submit that during his school education, he was converted to Christianity by the school incharge and a Baptism certificate to that effect was issued on 17.01.1965. In
the Baptism certificate, his name was entered as Christopher Thomas Paulraj. However, his Baptism name finds no place in any of the school records. He had completed his Bifurcated Engineering Course ((XI Standard) and joined the 2nd respondent College in the year 1969 as Mechanic. The petitioner would submit that without his knowledge, in the official records of the 2nd respondent, his name was entered as C.Thomas (nee) D.Kannappan. In the year 1985, the petitioner had requested the 2nd respondent-College to permit him to retire on medical invalidation. The request of the petitioner was accepted by the 2nd respondent College. The College had forwarded the pension proposal of th epetitioner to the authorities concerned. Since the respondents had failed to proceed with the same, the petitioner had approached this Court in W.P.No.12361 of 2024 and was favoured with an order.
3. Pursuant to the orders of this Court, the 3rd respondent forwarded the proposal to the 1st respondent on 01.07.2024. However, the said proposal was returned by the 1st respondent by proceedings dated 03.09.2024, stating that the petitioner had changed his name as C.Thomas, and hence, requested to furnish the Government Gazette Notification for the name change. Thereafter, the petitioner approached the 4th respondent to effect Gazette publication, however, the 4th respondent refused to effect Gazette publication for the reasons that the petitioner had not produced any authorised government document issued in the name of D.Kannappan (nee) C.Thomas as found in the records of the 2nd
respondent-College. The petitioner also tried to convince the 1st respondent, but his efforts ended in vain and ultimately, the 1st respondent issued the impugned proceedings on 07.05.2025, declining to accept the petitioner's pension proposal. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that at no point in time, the petitioner had changed his original name D.Kannappan to any other name on his own. Even his SSLC Certificate, Bifurcated Engineering Course (XI Standard) certificate, driving licence, Aadhar card, PAN card, passport and all other documents issued by the Government would reflect his name as D.Kannappan only. However, it is only the 2nd respondent College, on its own, had mentioned the petitioner's name as C.Thomas (nee) D.Kannapan (in the original Service Record) and D.Kannappan (nee) C.Thomas (in the duplicate service records). Further, the petitioner who is now aged 75 years was made to run from pillar to post to effect the Government Gazette Notification, and to get his pensionary benefits. Hence, he seeks indulgence of this Court by invoking the extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.
5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also perused the materials placed on record.
6. A mere perusal of the records would show that the impugned order of the 1st respondent came to be passed on the ground that the records furnished by the petitioner with regard to his name change is inadequate and hence, returned the pension proposal of the petitioner submitted by the 3rd respondent, stating as follows :
" With reference to your letter cited, as per Service Register, in Vol-I/first page your name is Kannappan Thomas. It does not match with the name mentioned in all other records furnished. So because of this discrepancy we are not in a position to issue authorization in F/O Sri.Kannappan.
You may correct the name in the Gazette and copy of the Gazette (As per G.O.198 dated 18.08.98) along with pension proposals and Service Register may be forwarded to this office for further review and action. Pay fixation from the date of Entry to DOR may be regulated in the SR under proper attestation and countersigned by the Department"
7. The relief claimed in this writ petition is to quash the impugned proceedings of the 1st respondent in Na.E22/4/12231222/ADK/672 dated 07.05.2025, and to direct the 1st Respondent to sanction Invalid Pensionary Benefits to petitioner in the name of D. Kannappan without insisting
Government Gazette Notification of Name Change. However, from a mere reading of the impugned proceedings, it is seen that the 1st respondent had only required the petitioner to correct his name in the Government Gazette and the same may be furnished to them, for further review and action at its end. Therefore, the 1st respondent had only followed the procedure contemplated, before authorising the pension to the petitioner and therefore, quashing of the impugned order does not warrant interference. Further, it is also stated by the petitioner that the 4th respondent is not processing his application for effecting the name change in the Gazette Gazette publication, on the ground that he should produce a Government document showing that his original name as C.Thomas (nee) D.Kannappan. Since there is no dispute that C.Thomas (nee) D.
Kannappan / Christopher Thomas Paulraj / C.Thomas / D.Kannappan Thomas / D.Kannappan are one and the same person, as a special case, the 4th respondent shall accept the Baptism certificate as proof and change the name in the Gazette Notification. The petitioner is directed to submit a fresh application enclosing the Baptism certificate to the 4th respondent, who shall consider the same and effect name change in the Gazette Notification. The said exercise shall be completed within a period of four weeks from the date of petitioner resubmitting his application along with the Baptism certificate. It is made clear that this order cannot be used as a precedent and this order is being issued only taking into account the advanced age of the petitioner and to enable him to enjoy his pensionary benefits at the earliest.
8. With the above directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed. 22-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DS To:
1. The Office Of The Accountant General (A & E) Tamilnadu, 361, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 018.
2. The Secretary Stella Maris College Chennai-600 086.
3. The Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Chennai Region, Anna Salai Saidapet, Chennai-600 015.
4. The Commissioner O/o. The Commissionerate of Stationery and Printing No.110, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002.
P.T.ASHA J.
DS 22-06-2026