Madras High Court
The Principal Secretary And ... vs M.George Stephen on 8 July, 2021
W.A. No.1552 of 2016
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 08.07.2021
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA
and
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY
W.A. No.1552 of 2016 and
C.M.P. No.19039 of 2016
1.The Principal Secretary and Commissioner
Department of School Education
Fort St. George, Chennai
2.The Director of School Education
E.V.K.Sampath Maligai
D.P.I. Campus, College Road
Chennai
3.The Chief Educational Officer
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District
4.The District Educational Officer
Thuckkalai, Kanyakumari District ... Appellants
vs
1.M.George Stephen
2.St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School
Mulagumoodu
Kanyakumari District ... Respondents
****
Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under clause 15 of the Letters Patent
against the order dated 28.01.2014 made in W.P. No.3434 of 2012.
****
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
For Appellant : Mr.R.Neelakantan
State Govt. Counsel
For Respondents : Ms.Auxilia Peter for R1 & R2
JUDGMENT
(delivered by PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, J.)
This intra-court appeal is preferred by the Government against
the order passed in W.P. No.3434 of 2012, wherein a mandamus was
issued by this court directing the appellants to consider the
representations dated 24.08.2011 and 21.09.2011 of the petitioner
and pass appropriate orders within a period of four weeks.
2. The writ petitioner, who possessed the qualification of B.Sc.
and B.Ed. joined as a B.T. Assistant on 10.06.1985 in St. Joseph's
Higher Secondary School, Mulagumoodu, Kanyakumari District. The
said school is a fully recognised and an aided school, having standards
1 to 10. The appointment of the writ petitioner was not approved, as a
result of which, he was not paid the salary. As the management of the
school assured that as and when the approval is received, the writ
petitioner would be paid his salary, he continued to work in the school
till he was transferred to St. Aloysius High School, Karankadu of the
same diocese under the management of the second respondent school
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
on 31.07.2000. The petitioner also joined the said school, namely St.
Aloysius High School, Karangadu, Kanyakumari District on
01.08.2000, which clearly shows that there is no break in service for
the writ petitioner.
3. The plea of the writ petitioner was that he should also be
extended the benefits of G.O.(1D) No.125 School Education (VE)
Department dated 13.04.2010 and be paid with salary from
10.06.1985 to 31.07.2000 and take into account the said period for
the purpose of pensionary benefits. Despite several representations,
there was no response and hence the mandamus was sought to fix the
pensionary benefits by counting the period between 01.09.1985 and
31.07.2000.
4. Heard both sides and perused the materials available on
record.
5. The learned counsel for the respondent, who is the writ
petitioner, placed reliance on the judgment passed by this court in
W.A. Nos.291 and 292 of 2008 (Gabriel Jelestin and Another v.
Government of Tamil Nadu and others), wherein the writ
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
petitioners therein were extended the benefits in similar
circumstances. Hence the writ petitioner also prayed for extension of
the benefits of the said Government Order.
6. However, the learned State Government Counsel, appearing
on behalf of the appellants would oppose stating that the order of
appointment was made by the school without there being any order of
approval of the same. Only when the writ petitioner joined on
01.08.2000 in a sanctioned post, he was entitled for the salary from
01.08.2000 as his original appointment from 10.06.1985 was not in a
sanctioned post, the writ petitioner is not entitled for the benefit of
counting the said period.
7. It will be now useful to extract G.O.(1D) No.125 School
Education Department dated 13.04.2010.
jkpH;ehL muR
RUf;fk;
gs;spf; fy;tp ? cjtpbgWk; nky;epiyg; gs;spfs; ?
fd;dpahFkhp khtl;lk;. KsFK:L. g[dpj n$hrg;
nky;epiyg; gs;spapy; KJfiy Mrphpah;fshf gzpg[hpa[k;
jpU/fgphpnay; b$y!;od; kw;Wk; jpU/$hh;$; tpd;brd;l;
Mfpnahh; gzpaplkpd;wp Cjpak; bgwhky; gzpg[hpe;j
fhy';fis. ePjpkd;w jPh;g;gpd;go Cjpa eph;zaj;jpw;Fk;.
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
Xa;t{jpa gyd;fSf;Fk;. fzf;fpy; vLj;Jf;bfhs;tJ ?
Miz btspaplg;gLfpwJ/
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
gs;spf; fy;tpj;(tp,)Jiw
murhiz (1o) vz;/125 ehs; 13/04/2010
jpUts;Stuhz;L 2041
g';Fdp ? 30/
gof;fg;gl;lit:-
1/ brd;id cah;ePjp kd;w kJiu fpis. ePjpg;nguhiz
kDf;fs; vz;/10758 kw;Wk; 10759-2006?d; kPjhd
11/6/2007 ehspl;l jPh;g;ghiz/
2/ brd;id cah;ePjp kd;w kJiu fpis. nky;KiwaPl;L
kDf;fs; vz;/291 kw;Wk; 292-2008?d; kPjhd
26/06/2008 ehspl;l jPh;g;ghiz/
3/ brd;id cah;ePjp kd;w kJiu fpisapy; bjhlug;gl;l
ePjpkd;w mtkjpg;g[ tHf;F kD vz;fs; 71 kw;Wk;
72-2010 kPjhd 1/3/2010 ehspl;l jPh;gg
; hiz/
4/ cr;rePjpkd;w (SLP (civil) CC 3969-3970/2010) kPjhd
22/3/2010 ehspl;l jPhg
; ;ghiz/
5/ gs;spf; fy;tp ,af;Fehpd; foj e/f/vz;/66454-lgps;a[5-
,1-2009 ehs; 26/3/2010/
?????
Miz:
fd;dpahFkhp khtl;lk; KsFK:L. g[dpj n$hrg;
nky;epiyg; gs;spapy; KJfiy Mrphpah; gzpapl';fs;
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
mDkjpf;fg;glhj epiyapy;. mg;gs;spapy; gzpg[hpe;j gpd;dh;
gzpaplk; mDkjpf;fg;gl;ljhy;. epakdk; Vw;gspf;fg;gl;L
gzpg[hpe;J tUk; jpU/fgphpnay; b$y!;od; kw;Wk;
jpU/$hh;$; tpd;brd;l; Mfpnahh; gzpaplkpd;wp Cjpak;
bgwhky; gzpg[hpe;j fhyj;jpid Cjpa eph;zaj;jpw;Fk;.
Xa;t{jpag; gyd;fs; mDkjpg;gjw;Fk; jFjpahd
gzpf;fhykhf fUjp Miz tH';f nfhhp murhiz
(epiy) vz;/314. gs;spf; fy;tp. ehs; 11/11/1999?I
vjph;j;J. brd;id cah;ePjpkd;w kJiu fpisapy; jhf;fy;
bra;j hpl; kDf;fs; 10758 kw;Wk; 10759-2006 Mfpad
11/6/2007?y; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; js;Sgo bra;ag;gl;ld vd;Wk;.
,j;jhP ;g;ghizapid vjph;j;J nkw;go Mrphpah;fs; brd;id
cah;ePjpkd;w kJiu fpisapy; jhf;fy; bra;j
nky;KiwaPL tHf;F vz;/291 kw;Wk; 292-2008
Mfpatw;wpy;. 26/6/2008 md;W fy;tpj; Jiwf;F vjpuhft[k;.
kDjhuh;fSf;F rhjfkhft[k;. fPHf
; z;lthW jPhg
; ;ghiz
tH';fg;gl;lJ vd gs;spf; fy;tp ,af;Feh;
bjhptpj;Js;shh;/
“Considering the above said facts and
circumstances of the case, the impugned G.O. which has
been revoking earlier G.O.No.18 dated 9.1.1997 issued
for the benefit of a teacher who approached the
Government and subsequently not extended the same in
respect of the case of the appellants, is unreasonable
and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.
Apart from that no reasons were stated for incorporating
the said unreasonable clauses into the impugned G.O.
Therefore clauses of 1 to 3 of the impugned G.O. Are
struck down and in view of the striking of the said
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
clauses, the appellants are entitled for the benefits as
per G.O.Ms.No.18, Department of Education, Science
and Technology (D2) dated 9.1.97 and G.O.Ms.No.143,
Education (V2) Department, dated 30.1.1987.
Accordingly the Writ Petitions are allowed.”
2/ nkw;fz;l jPhg
; ;gpd; kPJ brd;id cah;ePjp kd;w
muR rpwg;g[ tHf;fwp"hplkpUe;J bgwg;gl;l rl;lf;
fUj;jpd; mog;gilapy;. muR mDkjpa[ld;.
cr;rePjpkd;wj;jpy; Jiwapd; rhh;gpy; nky;KiwaPl;L kD
jhf;fy; bra;a eltof;if nkw;bfhs;sg;gl;L te;j
epiyapy;. kDjhuh;fs; nky;KiwaPl;L kD (kJiu fpis)
vz;fs;/ 291 kw;Wk; 292-2008 Mfpatw;wpd; kPjhd
jPh;g;ghizapid bray;gLj;jg;gltpy;iybad bjhptpj;J
ePjpkd;w mtkjpg;g[ tHf;F (C.P.No.71 and 72/2010)
bjhlh;e;Js;sdh; vd gs;spf; fy;tp ,af;Feh;
bjhptpj;Js;shh;/
3/ nky;KiwaPlL
; tHf;F vz;/291 kw;Wk; 292-2008?y;
ePjpkd;wj;jhy; tH';fg;gl;l jPh;g;gpid vjph;j;J. Jiwapd;
rhh;gpy; cr;rePjpkd;wj;jpy; jhf;fy; bra;ag;gl;l
nky;KiwaPl;L kDf;fs; (SLP (civil) CC 3969 -
3970/2010) 22/3/2010 md;W js;Sgo bra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ
vd;Wk;. ,e;epiyapy; fd;dpahFkhp khtl;lk;. KsFK:L.
g[dpj n$hrg; nky;epiyg; gs;spapy; KJfiy ,aw;gpay;
ghl Mrphpah; jpU/fgphpnay; b$y!;od; vd;ghh;
mDkjpf;fg;glhj gzpaplj;jpy; 14/10/1986 Kjy; 01/06/1997
Koa gzpg[hpe;j fhyj;ija[k;. KJfiyg; bghUspay; ghl
Mrphpah; jpU/$hh;$; tpd;brd;l; vd;ghh; mDkjpf;fg;glhj
gzpaplj;jpy; 11/08/1986 Kjy; 12/09/2001 Koa gzpg[hpe;j
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
fhyj;ija[k; Cjpakpd;wp. mth;fs; rhh;gpyhd Cjpa
eph;zak; kw;Wk; Xa;t{jpa gad;fs; fzf;fpLtjw;F
jFjpahd gzpf;fhykhf mDkjpj;Jk;. ,jid jdp
epfH;thft[k; fUjp Miz tH';FkhW gs;spf; fy;tp
,af;Feh; muir nfhhpa[s;shh;/
4/ nkw;fhz; r{H;epiyapy;. nky;KiwaPL tHf;F
vz;/291 kw;Wk; 292 – 2008?y; brd;id cah;ePjp kd;w
kJiu fpisapy; tH';fg;gl;Ls;s 26/6/2008 ehspl;l
jPh;g;gpid vjph;j;J murhy; cr;rePjpkd;wj;jpy; bjhlug;gl;l
KiwaPl;L kDf;fs; (SLP (civil) CC 3969 - 3970/2010)
js;Sgo bra;ag;gl;Ls;s epiyapy;. brd;id cah;ePjp
kd;w kJiu fpisahy;. 26/6/2008 md;W nky;KiwaPL
tHf;F vz;/291 kw;Wk; 292 2008?y; tH';fg;gl;l jPh;gg
; pid
bray;gLj;Jk; tifapy;. gs;spf; fy;tp ,af;Fehpd;
fUj;JUtpid Vw;W fd;dpahFkhp khtl;lk;. KsFK:L.
g[dpj n$hrg; nky;epiyg; gs;spapy; KJfiy ,aw;gpay;
ghl Mrphpah; jpU/fgphpnay; b$y!;od; vd;ghh;
mDkjpf;fg;glhj gzpaplj;jpy; Cjpak; bgwhky; gzpg[hpe;j
fhy';fs; 14/10/1986 Kjy; 01/06/1997 tiua[k;. KJfiyg;
bghUspay; ghl Mrphpah; jpU/gp/$hh;$; tpd;brd;l; vd;ghh;
mDkjpf;fg;glhj gzpaplj;jpy; Cjpak; bgwhky; gzpg[hpe;j
11/08/1986 Kjy; 12/09/2001 Koa cs;s fhy';fis
mth;fs; rhh;gpyhd Cjpa eph;zak; kw;Wk; Xa;t{jpag;
gad;fs; fzf;fpLtjw;F jFjpahd gzpf;fhykhf
mDkjpj;J Miz tH';fyhk; vd Kot[ bra;J
mt;thnw muR MizapLfpwJ/
5/ ,t;thiz epjpj; Jiwapd; m/rh/vz;/19625-Edn-
II/2010. ehs;/9/4/2010?y; bgwg;gl;l ,irt[ld;
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
btspaplg;gLfpwJ/
(MSehpd; Mizg;go)
k/Fw;whyp';fk;
muR Kjd;ikr; brayhsh;/
8. A reading of the above Government Order would make it clear
that, with respect to two of the teachers, who worked in the very
same school, namely St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School in
Mulagumoodu, in a non-sanctioned post, were granted salary from
11.08.1986 to 12.09.2001 and the said period was also taken into
account for the purpose of calculating the pensionary benefits. The
teachers referred to in the above Government Order also filed similar
writ petitions, which went on appeal and the appeal was dismissed
against the Government, and hence the above Government order was
passed.
9. In the given case, there is no break in service and the writ
petitioner, only when he joined in St. Aloysius High School,
Karankadu, he was paid regular salary, as the same was a sanctioned
post. It was argued by the learned Government Pleader that the writ
petitioner being not an employee in the sanctioned post, mere
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
continuation of service, will not confer upon him the right of a
permanent employee. If the teacher was not working against the
sanctioned post, mere sympathy and sentiment cannot be the grounds
for passing any order to treat them as permanent employees. Since
the appointment of the petitioner was not in the sanctioned post, there
cannot be any direction for granting remaining continuance of service
for the period prior to 01.08.2000.
10. It is further pointed out that by proceedings dated
10.04.2014, the representations of the writ petitioner was considered
by the fourth appellant, namely the District Educational Officer and
was rejected as per G.O. Ms. No.314 School Education Department
dated 12.12.1999. However, it appears that there was a contempt
petition filed by the writ petitioner for non-compliance of the order. In
order to close the said contempt petition, G.O. (1D) No.413 School
Education Department dated 27.11.2015, has been issued, the
operative portion of which is as follows:
"5/ nkw;fhz; R{H;epiyapy;. ePjpkd;w mtkjpg;gpid
jtph;fF
; k; bghUl;L gs;spf; fy;tp ,af;Fehpd;
ghpe;Jiuia Vw;W. brd;id cah;ePjpkd;w muR TLjy;
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
jiyik tHf;fwp"hpd; 23/6/2015 ehspl;l rl;lf;
fUj;jpdgo. ,e;neh;tpy; jhf;fy; bra;ag;gl;Ls;s
nky;KiwaPl;oy; btspaplg;gLk; jPh;g;ghizf;F cl;gl;L
kw;Wk; ,e;neh;tpid Kd;Djhuzkhf fUjf; TlhJ
vd;w epge;jidapd; mog;gilapy;. ePjpg;nguhiz kD
vz;/3434-2012 kPjhd 28/1/2014 ehspl;l jPh;gg
; hidapid
bray;gLj;Jk; bghUl;L Vw;fdnt jf;fiy khtl;lf;
fy;tp mYtyuhy; kDjhuhpd; nfhhpf;if kDtpid
epuhfhpj;J btspaplg;gl;l bray;Kiwfs; e/f/vz;/1010-
m2-14 ehs; 10/4/2014?I ePf;fk; bra;J. kdjhuh;
jpU/$hh;$; !;Ogd; vd;gth; fd;dpahFkhp khtl;lk;.
KsFK:L g[dpj n$hrg; nky;epiyg;gs;spapy; murhy;
m';fPfhpf;fg;glhj gzpaplj;jpy; mwptpapay; ghl gl;ljhhp
Mrphpauhf 01/09/1985 Kjy; 31/07/2000 tiu gzpahw;wpa
fhy';fis mth; rhh;gpyhd Cjpa eph;zak; kw;Wk;
Xa;t{jpag;gad;fs; tH';fpl fzf;fpy; bfhs;tjw;F
jFjpahd gzpf;fhykhf mDkjpj;J Miz tH';fyhk;
vd Kot[ bra;J mt;thnw muR Mizaplg;gLfpwJ/"
11. In view of the pendency of the appeal, the said Government
Order has not been given effect. In the light of the above Government
Order, there is nothing survives for adjudication in the writ appeal, as
the writ appeal itself has been filed only as an after thought. Hence
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
the writ appeal is dismissed. However, there is no order as to costs.
Consequently, the connected civil miscellaneous petition is closed.
12. For reporting compliance of G.O. (1D) No.413 School
Education Department dated 27.11.2015, the matter is adjourned to
08.10.2021.
[P.S.N., J.] [K.R., J.]
08.07.2021
Asr
Index : Yes/No
To
1.The Principal Secretary and Commissioner
Department of School Education
Fort St. George, Chennai
2.The Director of School Education
E.V.K.Sampath Maligai
D.P.I. Campus, College Road
Chennai
3.The Chief Educational Officer
Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District
4.The District Educational Officer
Thuckkalai, Kanyakumari District
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W.A. No.1552 of 2016
PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, J.
and
KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J.
Asr
W.A. No.1552 of 2016 and
C.M.P. No.19039 of 2016
08.07.2021
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