Tmt.S.Usha, v. The Secretary To Government,

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED :05.07.2017

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE T.RAJA W.P.(MD).No.12322 of 2017 S.Usha

...Petitioner

Vs.

1. The Secretary to Government, Co-operative, Food & Consumer Protection Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Registrar of Co-operative Societies, N.V.N. Maligai, E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.

3. The Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Madurai Region, Lady Doak College Road, Madurai - 625 002.

...Respondents

PRAYER : Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the third respondent i.e., the Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Maudrai Region, Madurai relating to petitioner's letter Rc.2348/2017 AC dated 17.05.2017 which is based on G.O.Ms.No.311 Finance (CMPC) Department dated 31.12.2014 and quash the same and consequently direct the first respondent i.e., the Secretary to Government, Co-operative, Food & Consumer Protection Department, Chennai to sanction the last increment which fell due on 01.04.2013 to the petitioner and send revised pension proposal within a specified time frame that may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner :Mr.S.Visvalingam For Respondents :Mr.R.Karthikeyan, Additional Government Pleader.

***

O R D E R

The present Writ Petition is directed against the impugned order dated 17.05.2017 passed by the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Society, Madurai Region, Madurai based on G.O.Ms.No.311, Finance (CMPC) Department, dated 31.12.2014 to quash the same with consequential direction to the first respondent i.e., the

Secretary to Government, Co-operative, Food & Consumer Protection Department, Chennai to sanction the last increment which fell due on 01.04.2013 to the petitioner and send revised pension proposal within a stipulated time to be fixed by this Court. 2.The learned Counsel for the petitioner would submit that Tmt.S.Usha, after serving as Co-operative Sub-Registrar in Madurai, was allowed to retire peacefully on 31.03.2013 on attaining the age of superannuation. Her last increment fell due on 01.04.2013. Therefore as per the provisions contained in F.R 26 (a) Appendix (ix), the increment of a Government Servant which falls due in a quarter may be sanctioned on the first day of that quarter even though the said employee retires from service prior to the actual date of accrual of increment.

3. In view thereof, the petitioner made representation on 14.11.2016 requesting them to allow the same as per F.R 26(a) Appendix (ix). But the Joint Registrar of Co-operative Society, Madurai Region, Madurai has rejected the request of the petitioner, taking a stand that as per G.O.Ms.No.311, Finance (CMPC) Department, dated 31.12.2014, the concession of the notional increment shall take prospective effect from the date of issue of the Government Order and therefore, the request of the petitioner cannot be considered.

4. Assailing the reasonings given therein, the learned Counsel for the petitioner would further submit that it is an admitted case that the petitioner has put in 12 clear months of service from 01.04.2012 to 31.03.2013. When the petitioner has put in 12 clear months of service, she should be paid with the increment for the said 12 months of service rendered. The date of completion in the present case is 01.04.2013, but the petitioner, on reaching the age of superannuation, retired from service on 01.04.2013. She was allowed to retire by the Competent Authority. Therefore the right to enjoy the increment having been acquired by the petitioner legally is entitled to the increment, which is due on 01.04.2013. Therefore, on the ground that the petitioner retired on 31.03.2013 and not working on 01.04.2013, the accrued rights of the petitioner cannot be denied, it is pleaded.

5. Heard the parties.

6. Let me refer F.R.26(a) Appendix (ix) which is extracted as follows:

" The increment of a Government Servant which falls due in a quarter may be sanctioned on the first day of that quarter even though he retires from service prior to the actual date accrual of increments."

7. A mere perusal of the above shows that the increment of the Government Servant falling due in a quarter to be sanctioned on

the first day of that quarter even though he retires from service prior to the actual date of accrual of increments. Now the petitioner retired on 01.04.2013.

8. In a similar circumstances, referring to the same F.R.26 (a), this Court has passed an order in W.P.(MD)No.22589 of 2010 dated 03.08.2011 giving direction to the respondents therein to pay the last increment. The said order was also affirmed on Appeal in W.A.No.2095 of 2011 dated 10.11.2011. Again on further Appeal to the Honourable Supreme Court in S.L.P.C.C.No.10842 of 2013, dated 04.07.2013, the Judgment passed by the Honourable Division Bench of this Court in W.A.No.2095 of 2011 has been affirmed, therefore the respondents cannot hesitate to pay the last increment fell due on 01.04.2013 on the basis of F.R 26(a) Appendix (ix) as cited above.

9. Admittedly the petitioner after serving as Co-operative Sub-Registrar, Madurai, retired from service, on reaching the age of superannuation on 31.03.2013. When she was not paid with the increment for having served from 01.04.2012 till 31.03.2013, as per F.R 26(a) Appendix (ix), which is extracted as above, the increment for the said year deserved to be sanctioned. A perusal of F.R26(a) Appendix (ix) shows that the increment of a Government Servant which fell due in a quarter to be sanctioned on the first day of that quarter even though he retires from service. Therefore when F.

R 26(a) Appendix (ix) candidly makes it clear that the increment of the Government Servant which fells due in a quarter to be sanctioned on the first day of the quarter even though retires from the service, in the instant case, the petitioner, having served continuously from 01.04.2012 to till 31.03.2013, on attaining the age of superannuation on 31.03.2013, retired from service, therefore she will not be able to work on 01.04.2013. Hence, the ground taken by the respondents that since she is not in service on 01.04.2013, not entitled to the increment, is wholly running contrary to F.R 26(a) Appendix (ix).

10. In the similar circumstances, I have also held in W.P.(MD) No.10630 of 2016, dated 15.07.2016 that the annual increment for the service rendered from 01.04.2013 to 31.03.2014 which fell due from 01.04.2014 should be granted.

11. In view of the above, the Writ Petition is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. No costs. It is needless to mention that the first respondent is hereby directed to sanction the last increment which fell due on 01.04.2013 within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Sd/- Assistant Registrar (AD-II) /True copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar

To

1. The Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Co-operative, Food & Consumer Protection Department, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009.

2. The Registrar of Co-operative Societies, N.V.N. Maligai, E.V.R. High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010.

3. The Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Madurai Region, Lady Doak College Road, Madurai - 625 002.

+1 CC to M/s.S.VISVALINGAM, Advocate, SR No. 63531. GSP/SSL PSM/KP/SAR1/20.07.2017/4P/5C W.P.(MD).No.12322 of 2017 05.07.2017