M. Karuppiah v. The District Collector

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 16.12.2024

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.VIJAYAKUMAR W.P(MD)No.24578 of 2024 and W.M.P(MD) No.20920 of 2024 M.Karuppiah ... Petitioner Vs.

1. The District Collector, Virudhunagar District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aruppukottai Office, Virudhunagar District.

3. The Treasury Officer, District Treasury, Virudhunagar.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to impugned recovery order No.Na.Ka.A1/3603/19/2023, dated 18.09.2024 passed by the second respondent and quash the same. For Petitioner : Mr.N.Ganesh 1/5

For Respondents : Mr.D.Sasikumar Additional Government Pleader

O R D E R

The instant Writ Petition has been filed by a retired Village Administrative Officer, challenging the order of recovery passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer, on the ground that excess House Rent Allowance was paid to the petitioner, while he was in service.

2. A perusal of the impugned order reveals that at the instance of the petitioner, the respective Tahsildar has disbursed the excess House Rent Allowance to the writ petitioner and the excess amount is sought to be recovered. In the impugned order, there is no reference about the period during which the alleged excess House Rent Allowance has been disbursed to the writ petitioner. The impugned order is also vague with regard to the applicability of the relevant Government Orders for payment of House Rent Allowance to the Village Administrative Officers. 2/5

3. The petitioner herein had retired 15 years prior to the passing of the impugned order. There is no allegation in the impugned order that the excess House Rent Allowance was paid to the writ petitioner due to the misrepresentation made by him. Since no Government Orders have been referred to in the impugned order relating to the disbursement of House Rent Allowance, this Court is not in a position to arrive at a finding whether at all any excess House Rent Allowance was paid to the writ petitioner.

4. In such circumstances, the petitioner, having retired 15 years back and the recovery is sought to be made after the retirement, this Court is of the considered opinion that the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court reported in (2015) 4 SCC 334 in the case of (State of Punchab and other Vs. Rafiq (white washer) and others), is squarely applicable to the facts of the present case.

5. This Hon'ble Court, in a batch of 68 cases, by way of separate orders on 11.06.2024 has allowed similar writ petitions with a direction to refund the amount, if any already recovered.

3/5

6. Considering the above said facts, the order impugned in the writ petition is set aside and in case, if any recovery has already been made, the respondents herein are directed to refund the same, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above said observations, this Writ Petition stands allowed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.

16.12.2024 NCC : Yes/No 4/5 Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No ebsi To

1. The District Collector, Virudhunagar District.

2. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Aruppukottai Office, Virudhunagar District.

3. The Treasury Officer, District Treasury, Virudhunagar.

4/5

R.VIJAYAKUMAR,J.

ebsi W.P(MD)No.24578 of 2024 16.12.20244 4/5 5/5