A.P Santhanakrishnan v. The Secretary To Government

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 10.06.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR A.P.Santhanakrishnan ... Petitioner -vs1.The Secretary to Government Revenue and Disaster Management Department Secretariat, Chennai-600 009 2.The Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005 3.The District Collector Dindigul District, Dindigul ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the first respondent i.e., the Secretary to Government, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Chennai, to direct the District Collector, Dindigul to send revised pension proposals in respect of the petitioner counting the entire services put in by him in the cadre

of Village Assistant from 01.06.1995 to 21.11.2018 as per Tamil Nadu Village Assistant Pension Rules, within a specified time frame that may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner :

Mr.S.Visvalingam For Respondents :

Mrs.K.Porkodi Counsel for the Government

O R D E R

Heard Mr.S.Visvalingam, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs.K.Porkodi, learned counsel for the Government, appearing for the respondents.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that he was initially appointed as Thalayari and served as such from 17.08.1992 to 31.05.1995. Thereafter, he was absorbed in the regular time scale of pay as Village Assistant with effect from 01.06.1995 in terms of G.O.(Perm) No.625, Revenue Department, dated 06.07.1995 and continued as such till 21.11.2018. Thereafter, the petitioner was promoted as Village Administrative Officer through proceedings dated 22.11.2018. Subsequently, the petitioner attained the age of superannuation

and retired from service on 30.04.2025. However, the pension was fixed without taking into consideration the service rendered by the petitioner as Village Assistant from 01.06.1995 to 21.11.2018. Hence, the petitioner claims to have submitted a representation requesting revision of his pension duly taking into consideration the service rendered by him as Village Assistant.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the very same issue of counting the service rendered as Village Assistant for the purpose of pensionary benefits had fallen for consideration before the learned Division Bench of this Court in W.A.(MD) No.1200 of 2025 etc. [The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Revenue and Disaster Management Department and others Vs. K. Marimuthu and others]. The learned Division Bench of this Court, vide Judgment dated 03.02.2026, held that the Village Assistants, whose services were regularised in terms of G.O.(Perm) No. 625, Revenue Department, dated 06.07.1995, are entitled to count their entire service as Village Assistant for the purpose of pensionary benefits.

4. Learned counsel for the Government appearing for the respondents fairly submits that the claim made by the petitioner is covered by the Judgment of the learned Division Bench of this Court relied upon by the

learned counsel for the petitioner and further submits that the representation submitted by the petitioner would be considered by the respondents in accordance with law and that an appropriate revised proposal would be submitted.

5. In the light of the above, this writ petition is disposed of directing the third respondent to submit a revised pension proposal duly taking into consideration the services rendered by the petitioner as Village Assistant to the first respondent, based on the petitioner's representation dated 28.02.2026, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 10.06.2026 (1/4) NCC :

Yes / No Index :

Yes / No Internet :

Yes / No krk To:

1.The Secretary to Government, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.

2.The Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Chennai-600 005.

3.The District Collector, Dindigul District, Dindigul.

MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J.

krk 10.06.2026 (1/4)