Madras High Court
The Registrar Of Co-Operative ... vs N.Ravichandran on 9 March, 2022
W.A.No.2909 of 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 09.03.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.VAIDYANATHAN
AND
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ
W.A.No.2909 of 2021
and
C.M.P.No.19656 of 2021
1. The Registrar of Co-operative Societies (Housing),
Veppery,
Chennai- 600 007.
2. The Deputy Registrar of Cooperative
Societies (Housing),
Cuddalore. ... Appellants
-vs-
1. N.Ravichandran
2. SAHSG 56, Vridhachalam Taluk,
Co-operative Housing Society Ltd.,
Rep. by its President,
No.11, Kattukudalur Road,
Thiru. Vee. Kaa.Nagar,
Vridhachalam- 606 001. ... Respondents
Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letter Patent Act, to set aside the order
dated 26.07.2021 passed in W.P.No.27218 of 2021 and allow the above Writ Appeal.
1/9
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W.A.No.2909 of 2021
For Appellant : Mr.Haja Nazirudeen
Additional Advocate General
Asst. by Ms.S.Anitha (R1 and R2)
Spl.Govt.Pleader (Co-op.)
For Respondents : Mr.M.S.Panaliswamy
*****
JUDGMENT
S.VAIDYANATHAN,J.
and
MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ,J.
This Writ Appeal has been directed against the order dated 26.07.2021 passed in
W.P.No.25073 of 2019.
2. It is the case of the Writ Petitioner that he, who has served as Secretary in the
2nd Respondent Society herein, attained the age of Superannuation on 31.07.2019 and he
was not paid any terminal benefits on the ground that he has received excess salary.
When the order depriving terminal benefits was challenged in W.P.No.25073 of 2019,
the order of which is impugned herein, the learned Single Judge, vide order dated
26.07.2021, has disposed of the said Writ Petition, with a direction to the Respondents 2
& 3 therein to disburse the Provident Fund and the gratuity amount payable to the Writ
Petitioner, together with interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of
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W.A.No.2909 of 2021
retirement, till the date of actual payment, within a period of eight weeks from the date
of receipt of a copy of the order. Aggrieved by the same, the Appellants, who were the
Respondents 1 & 2 in the Writ Petition, are before this Court.
3. Learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the Appellants submitted
that when excess salary has been disbursed to the employees at the time of entering into
service, the same ought to be recovered and if they were allowed to retire by granting
entire terminal benefits, it would be difficult to recover the same from them, like that of
the Writ Petitioner. The learned Additional Advocate General further submitted that the
proceedings under Section 82 of the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Act, 1983 (in
short 'the Act') has been initiated and in terms of Section 87 of the Act, the time limit
prescribed is seven years, within which the excess amount paid is expected to be
recovered from the concerned person, as there cannot be any financial loss to the
Society. He also submitted that the question of interpretation under Section 87 (1) of the
Act is pending before the Full Bench of this Court and till the outcome of the decision in
the matter pending before the Full Bench, the Writ Petitioner is not entitled to any relief,
as was granted by the learned Single Judge.
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W.A.No.2909 of 2021
4. Learned counsel appearing for the First Respondent/Writ Petitioner brought to
the attention of this Court the order issued to the Writ Petitioner dated 31.07.2019,
wherein it was stated that the Writ Petitioner has been allowed to retire from service.
5. Heard both sides. Perused the records.
6. A narrow issue is involved in this case to the effect that the act of the
Respondents / Appellants herein in withholding the amount in the garb of payment of
excess amount towards salary is permissible or not? The Writ Petitioner had benefit of
settlement available and revision of pay and attained the age of Superannuation and he
was also permitted to retire from service, but, the terminal benefits like gratuity etc., and
other benefits have not been settled, which made the Writ Petitioner approached this
Court.
7. A Division Bench of this Court, while elaborating the object of Cooperative
Societies in the case of L.Justine V.Haridass Vs. The Registrar of Co-operative
Societies reported in 2002 W.L.R. 876, held as follows:
“4. The basis of cooperative movement is to enable the people to form
different cooperative societies with different objects and activities for
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W.A.No.2909 of 2021
betterment of the economic conditions particularly of the under-privileged,
by collective action. Financial viability is the essential factor for sustenance
of the society, as otherwise, there is no purpose of constituting the societies.
Cooperative societies are not akin to other kinds of societies or associations,
which are registered under the Public Societies Registration Act or other
enactments. The cooperative movement is a special feature having specific
object of enabling a group of persons to combine and work for economic
upliftment, which is a most important factor for the development of the
state/country. There is enormous contribution made by the Government for
the establishment and growth of the cooperative societies, be it the grant of
money or counter guarantee for the payment of money raised by way of
loans from the financial institutions like banks, including the Reserve Bank
of India....”
8. It was brought to the notice of this Court that a direction has been issued by the
Registrar of Co-operative Societies on 22.02.1995 in respect of revision of pay,
allowances and other benefits due to the abnormal rise of price of various consumer
articles and other commodities. However, subsequently in view of the various
representation made by the employees of Taluk Co-operative Housing Societies on
30.03.1995 on account of pay anomalies, the aforesaid direction of the Registrar was
kept in abeyance, which has not come into effect as on date. The Society concerned was
also permitted to enter into settlement with the employees with regard to revision of
wages and other benefits that may be applicable to the employees concerned.
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W.A.No.2909 of 2021
9. It is pertinent to mention here that though the method of appointment, etc., has
been prescribed under the Act, the service conditions of the employees of the
Cooperative Societies are governed by Labour Legislation under the provisions of
Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and other enactments, applicable to the Society,
depending upon the number of persons prescribed in the legislation. As the employees
started demanding revision of wages, which made the Government to permit
Cooperative Society to have an access to settlement between the Unions, so that revision
of pay scales can be periodically extended. In the present case on hand, the Writ
Petitioner had the benefit of revision of pay scale based on such settlement.
10. The learned Single Judge, after hearing the parties and after taking note of
Sections 78 and 79 of the Act, had quashed the order of the 3rd Respondent, depriving
the terminal benefits, with a direction to the Appellants to disburse the provident fund
and the gratuity amount payable to the Writ Petitioner, together with interest at the rate
of 10% per annum, from 31.07.2019 i.e., date of retirement, till the date of actual
payment, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this
Judgment.
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W.A.No.2909 of 2021
11. In the present case on hand, admittedly, the Writ Petitioner has already
attained the age of superannuation and the gratuity and Provident Fund amount cannot
be deprived on the ground that there is an action contemplated to recover the amount
under Sections 82 and 87 of the Act, especially when the issue with reference to
Section 87 (1) of the Act is pending before the Full Bench. Even assuming that the
same is applicable, nothing prevented the Society from recovering the amount after the
decision rendered by the Larger bench. That apart, the retiral benefits like Provident
Fund and gratuity is not a bounty and the same has got to be paid within a time
prescribed under the enactment failing which the rate of interest would apply.
12. In view of the afore-stated position, we are not inclined to accept the
contention of the learned Additional Advocate General that the present Appeal could be
decided only after the issue under Section 87 (1) of the Act is decided by the Full Bench.
This is not the case of misappropriation or other serious charges, so as to deprive the
terminal benefits of the Writ Petitioner. Hence, in our considered opinion, the order of
the learned Single judge, directing the Appellants herein to settle the terminal benefits
within eight weeks together with interest is perfectly valid and needs no interference by
this Court.
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W.A.No.2909 of 2021
13. In the result, this Writ Appeal is dismissed with a direction to the Appellants
to comply with the order of the learned Single Judge. As the time granted by the learned
Single Judge has already expired, the Appellants are expected to settle the benefits
within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. It is
made clear that the issue with regard to the applicability of Section 87(1) is left open for
the parties to agitate before the Larger Bench. No costs. Consequently, connected
Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
[S.V.N., J.,] [M.S.Q., J]
09.03.2022
Index: Yes / No
Internet: Yes / No
arr
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
W.A.No.2909 of 2021
S. VAIDYANATHAN,J.,
and
MOHAMMED SHAFFIQ, J.,
arr
W.A.No. 2909 of
09.03.2022
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
