The petition was filed under Article 226 in the Madras High Court. The prayer was for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing respondents to pay retirement benefits along with arrears of the petitioner’s husband from 28-02-1994. Justice Mr P. Velmurgan heard and allowed the matter petition in the case of Mohanvalli v. The State of Tamil Nadu, The Secretary to Government and Ors.
Facts of the case
The Petitioner’s husband died on 1st April 2004. The Petitioner’s husband had been appointed to the post of Rural Medical Practitioner and started working on 2nd January 1973 and later on 1st October 1984, the service was regularized, and he worked there till attainment of superannuation on 20th February 1994.
The Petitioner claimed that her husband’s service from 2nd January 1973 should be considered for pensionary benefits along with the regularized service. The claim was based on orders of multiple similar cases in the court along with the Government Order G.O. Ms No. 118, dated 14th February 1996.
The petitioner also claimed that she has made several representations dated 7th June 1999 and 21st October 2005 seeking payment in respect of her husband retirement benefits, there has been no action taken on that also.
Arguments of the Parties
The Respondent contended that while her husband was employed on a part-time basis along with fixed pay and under non-pensionable establishment, he died on 1st April 2004 without any service benefits. But on 24th September 2007 through G.O.Ms.No.164/RD & LA (E5) Department it was established that practitioners in rural dispensaries and those who fall under sanctioned time scale of pay w.e.f. 01.10.1984 are considered for pensionary benefits. This made the Petitioner’s husband eligible for benefits from 1st October 1984 up to the date of superannuation.
The Respondents also clarified that multiple reminders were sent to the Petitioner for the application of the pension forms through the correct channel which was finally complied on 20th September 2010. Since then the respondents allowed the petitioner to draw regular family pension and arrears were paid in a lump sum after which the Petitioner filed this writ petition.
As per Rule 11(4)(i) of TNPR, 1978 only whole-time employment is eligible for pensionary benefits which makes the Petitioner’s husband’s service from 2nd January 1973 to 30th September 1984 non-pensionable.
Observation of the Court
Court ordered that the Respondents take the service of the petitioner’s husband regularized since 2nd January 1973 as on taking account of multiple ratios passed by the court in similar cases.
Along with that since the payment for the service Gratuity and the death cum retirement benefit was delayed, Court ordered respondents to consider the interests on delayed payment since Petitioner’s husband fulfilled the criteria under clauses (i) and (ii) of the G. O. Ms. No. 118 of Tamil Nadu Finance (Pension) Department.
Decision of the Court
The Court allowed the petition and successfully disposed of it by giving suitable directions to the Respondents.
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