Rengammal v. The Chief Educational Officer

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 28.07.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.RAJASEKAR Rengammal ... Appellant Vs.

1.The Chief Educational Officer, Multi Office Block 1, Collectorate Office Back Side, Theni District.

2.The District Educational Officer, Master Plan Complex, Allinagaram, Theni District.

3.The District Elementary Educational Officer, Theni, Theni District.

4.The Correspondent, Edwart Memorial Middle School, Thenkarai, Periyakulam, Theni District.

5.The Head Master, Edwart Memorial Middle School, Thenkarai, Periyakulam, Theni District.

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6.Balamani ... Respondents Prayer : Writ Appeal filed under Clause XV of Letters Patent, to allow the writ appeal by setting aside the order passed in W.P.(MD)No.25148 of 2023 dated 26.04.2024 on the file of this Court. For Appellant : Mr.S.Vellaichamy For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkateshkumar, Spl. Government Pleader for R1 to R3.

JUDGMENT

(By G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.) Heard the learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Special Government Pleader for the official respondents. 2.The appellant's son / Mookiah was working as Secondary Grade Teacher in the fourth respondent school. He passed away on 21.07.2023. The case of the appellant is that the marriage between her son / Mookiah and the sixth respondent / Balamani was already legally dissolved. But unfortunately, while issuing the legal heirs certificate, Balamani's name was shown as one of the legal heirs (in the capacity of widowed wife). In this background, the appellant filed W.P.(MD)No.25148 of 2023 for 2/6

directing the authorities not to disburse all the monetary benefits to her in her capacity as the first class legal heir. The learned Single Judge vide order dated 26.04.2024 disposed of the writ petition by holding that the appellant has to challenge the legal heir certificate. Aggrieved by the said order, this writ appeal came to be filed. 3.When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Special Government Pleader produced copy of the official proceedings, from which, it can be seen that the appellant alone has been recognized as a legal heir of the deceased Mookiah. It is also further seen that sanction order has also been passed. We direct the department to settle the benefits payable to the appellant as expeditiously as possible. 4.In this view of the matter, the order of the learned Single Judge is set aside and the writ appeal is allowed. No costs. (G.R.S. J.,) & (K.R.S. J.,) 28.07.2025 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No ias 3/6

To:

1.The Chief Educational Officer, Multi Office Block 1, Collectorate Office Back Side, Theni District.

2.The District Educational Officer, Master Plan Complex, Allinagaram, Theni District.

3.The District Elementary Educational Officer, Theni, Theni District.

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G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.

and K.RAJASEKAR, J.

ias 28.07.2025 6/6