Vasandharadevi v. The Commissioner

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 18/06/2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR WP(MD). Nos.15215 to 15218 of 2026 Vasandharadevi ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.15215 of 2026 M.Saratha @ Saratha Meena ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.15216 of 2026 Hemavathy Bai ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.15217 of 2026 K.Vijayakumari ... Petitioner in WP(MD)No.15218 of 2026 Vs.

1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Nungampakkam High Road, Chennai - 34.

2. The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Kanyakumari District Temple, Suchindram,Suchindram Post, Kanyakumari District.

... Respondents in all the writ petitions PRAYER in all the writ petitions:- Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to provide family pension and 1/6

arrears family pension to the petitioner and based on the petitioner's representation dated 13.04.2026.

In all the writ petitions:

For Petitioner : Mr.Kannan Gurusami For Respondents : Mrs.K.Porkodi Government Pleader COMMON ORDER This batch of writ petitions are at the instance of the widows of the deceased employees claiming for family pension. The respective husbands of the petitioners have passed away more than a decade back. But, the claim of the petitioners for family pension is kept pending for all these years.This Court, having taken note of the same, on an earlier occasion, passed the following order:

''In this batch of matters, the petitioners seek release of family pension and family pension arrears.

2.In W.P.(MD).No.15215 of 2026, the husband of the petitioner passed away in the year 2011. The petitioner has been making continuous efforts to receive family pension all these years. Ultimately, on 10.04.2025, the second respondent submitted a proposal to the first respondent for sanction of family pension along with arrears. However, for reasons best known to the first respondent, the said proposal has been kept pending for more than a year.

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3.Mrs.K.Porkodi, learned counsel appearing for the Government, on instructions, submitted that appropriate orders would be passed by the respondents within a period of eight weeks.

4.This Court finds no justification for the first respondent in keeping the proposal pending for more than a year, particularly when the matter pertains to the grant of family pension and arrears. The petitioner in the said case is aged about 72 years and has not been in receipt of family pension for nearly 15 years.

5.In view of the above, this Court was initially inclined to direct the personal appearance of the first respondent to explain the delay and failure to discharge official duties. However, this Court considering the request made by the learned counsel for the Government to list the matter on 18.06.2026, expects that appropriate orders will be passed in all the matters on or before the next date of hearing. Failing which, this Court will take serious note of the conduct of the first respondent and pass appropriate orders''.

2. Accordingly, the matters are listed today for further consideration. Today, when the matters are taken up for consideration, Mrs.K.Porkodi, learned Government Pleader appearing for the first respondent and Mr.R.Shankar Ganesh, learned counsel appearing for the 3/6

second respondent submitted that the first respondent has already considered the proposal submitted by the second respondent and accordingly issued the proceedings in Order No.1269139/2025-1/S3, dated 1206.2026 in respect of the petitioner in WP(MD)No.15215 of 2026, in Order No.1680684/2025-1/S3, dated 1206.2026 in respect of the petitioner in WP(MD)No.15216 of 2026, in Order No.1451865/2025-1/ S3, dated 1206.2026 in respect of the petitioner in WP(MD)No.15217 of 2026 and in Order No.1451838/2025-1/S3, dated 1206.2026 in respect of the petitioner in WP(MD)No.15218 of 2026 releasing the family pension. It is further stated that arreas of family pension are going to be credited to the bank accounts of the petitioners today.

3. In the light of the above, the grievance of the petitioners as agitated in the present writ petitions stands fullfilled and the writ petitions are closed. No costs.

18.06.2026 NCC : Yes/No Index : Yes/No Internet : Yes/No CM 4/6

TO

1. The Commissioner, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Nungampakkam High Road, Chennai - 34.

2. The Joint Commissioner / Executive Officer, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department, Kanyakumari District Temple, Suchindram,Suchindram Post, Kanyakumari District.

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MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR,J CM WP(MD). Nos.15215 to 15218 of 2026 Date : 18/06/2026 6/6