Thanga Natchiyar .S v. The Joint Director
1BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 02.08.2023
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE L.VICTORIA GOWRI W.P(MD).No.18688 of 2023 S.Thanga Natchiyar
...Petitioner
Vs.
1.The Joint Director, Social Welfare Department, No.1, Panagal Maligai Building, 2nd Floor, Jeenis Road, Saidapet, Chennai.
2.The Director, Directorate for Differently abled, No.5, Kamarajar Salai, Lady Wellington College Campus, Chennai.
3.The Rehabilitation Officer, Phsyically Handicapped, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari.
...Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to disburse the pension amount and other terminal benefits of petitioner's 1/6
husband namely Late K.Soundaraj to the petitioner within the time fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.H. Arumugam For Respondents : Mr. M.Prakash Additional Government Pleader
ORDER
This Writ Petition has been filed for issuing a direction to the respondents to disburse the pension amount and other terminal benefits of petitioner's husband namely Late K.Soundarraj to the petitioner within the time fixed by this Court.
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.
3. The petitioner is a blind widow and her husband was also blind person. The petitioner's husband was appointed as a Music Teacher at Government Blind School, Konam, Nagercoil by the first respondent, dated 14.10.1985. Thereafter, one Babu Benjamin Raj was appointed as Headmaster in the said school. After the appointment of the said person, 2/6
there was some problem between the petitioner's husband and the said Headmaster with respect to the money of the petitioner's husband. As a result of which, her husband was never disbursed with his salary during his life time. On 07.10.1998, the petitioner's husband sent a representation to the Chief Minister's Cell seeking to direct the Headmaster to disburse his salary. In the meanwhile, the petitioner's husband viz., T.Soundarajan, retired from service on 10.07.1999. He sent a representation, dated 07.08.2000 in this regard to disburse his terminal benefits and the said representation was forwarded to the 3rd respondent for necessary action. The third respondent vide communication, dated 21.08.2000 had sent a recommendation to the Government Blind School, Konam, Nagercoil to disburse the benefits of the petitioner's husband.
The petitioner's husband also sent a communication to the Commissionerate of Physically Challenged on 22.01.2002. While so, the petitioner's husband passed away on 24.07.2015. During his life time, the terminal benefits were not disbursed. After the death of his husband, the petitioner sent a representation, dated 28.08.2019 to the Chief Minister's Cell to disburse the terminal benefits of her husband, who retired on 10.07.1999, the same was not disbursed.
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4. That apart, on perusal of the record it is found that the said blind school is no more functional and has been closed. As a result of which, the entire records pursuant to the school service records and Administrative records has been forwarded to the first respondent.
5. In view of the same, this Court is inclined to direct the first respondent to disburse the pension amount and terminal benefits of the petitioner's husband viz., K.Soundarajan to the petitioner within a period of twelve (12) weeks from the date of reciept of a copy of this order.
6. With the above observation, this Writ Petition is allowed. There shall be no order as to costs.
02.08.2023 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No trp 4/6
To 1.The Joint Director, Social Welfare Department, No.1, Panagal Maligai Building, 2nd Floor, Jeenis Road, Saidapet, Chennai.
2.The Director, Directorate for Differently abled, No.5, Kamarajar Salai, Lady Wellington College Campus, Chennai.
3.The Rehabilitation Officer, Physically Handicapped, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari.
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L.VICTORIA GOWRI, J., trp W.P(MD).No.18688 of 2023 02.08.2023 6/6