Madras High Court
The Secretary To Government vs P.Sithivinayagam on 25 July, 2022
Author: S.S.Sundar
Bench: S.S.Sundar, S.Srimathy
W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 25.07.2022
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE S.S.SUNDAR
and
THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY
W.A(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
and
C.M.P(MD)Nos.6727, 6730, 6733 of 2022
WA(MD)No.791 of 2022:
1.The Secretary to Government,
Public Works Department,
Secretariat, Chennai – 9.
2.The Chief Engineer,
Public Works Department,
Chepauk, Chennai – 5.
3.The Superintending Engineer,
Medical College Maintenance Circle,
Trichirapalli. ... Appellants/Respondents 2, 4 and 8
Vs.
1.P.Sithivinayagam
....1st respondent/Petitioner No.7
2.G.Ramaiyan
3.S.Sarandoss
4.P.Thiagarajan
5.V.Krishnamoorthy
6.G.Marimuthu
7.A.Amaladoss ... Respondents 2 to 7/Petitioners 1 to 6
8.A.Paramasivam
9.R.Meganathan
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
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W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
10.V.Vasudevan
11.A.Sardhar
... Respondents 8 to 11/Petitioners 8 to 11
12.The Principal Secretary to Government,
Agriculture Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai – 600009. ... 12th respondent/1st respondent
13.The Principal Secretary to Government,
Public Health Department,
Secretariat,
Chennai – 600009. ...13th respondent/3rd respondent
14.The Commissioner of Agriculture,
Chepauk,
Chennai – 600 005.
15.The District Collector, Tanjore District,
Tanjore.
16.The Executive Engineer,
(Building Construction and Maintenance Division),
Public Works Department,
Tanjore, Tanjore District
... Respondents 14 to 16/Respondents 5 to 7
17.The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Pattukottai Division,
Pattukottai,
Tanjore District.
18.The Deputy Director of Health,
Public Health and Preventive
Medicines Department,
Tanjore District.
19.The Executive Engineer,
Grand Anaicut Canal Division,
Public Works Department,
Tanjore District.
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W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
20.The Assistant Director of Agriculture,
Thiruvaiyaru Taluk, Tanjore District.
21.The Commissioner of Panchayat,
Thiruvonam Panchayat Union,
Tanjore District. ... Respondents 17 to 21/Respondents 9 to 13
Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent, against the
order dated 26.07.2013 made in W.P(MD)No.12140 of 2013.
WA(MD)No.792 of 2022:
The Executive Engineer,
(Building Construction and Maintenance Division),
Public Works Department,
Tanjore, Tanjore District. ... Appellant/Respondent No.7
Vs.
st
1.G.Ramaiyan ... 1 respondent / Petitioner No.1
2.P.Thiagarajan ... 2nd respondent/Petitioner No.3
3. S.Sarandoss ... 3rd respondent/petitioner No.2
4. V.Krishnamoorthy
5. G.Marimuthu
6. A.Amaladoss
7. P.Sithivinayagam
8. A.Paramasivam
9. R.Meganathan
10. V.Vasudevan
11. A.Sardhar ... Respondents 4 to 11/Petitioner Nos.4 to 11
12.The Principal Secretary to Government,
Agriculture Department,,
Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
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W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
13.The Secretary to Government,,
Public Works Department, Secretariat,
Chennai-9..
14.The Principal Secretary to Government,
Public Health Department,
Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
15. The Chief Engineer,,
Public Works Department, Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009..
16. The Commissioner of Agriculture,
Chepauk, Chennai-600 005..
17. The District Collector,
Tanjore District, Tanjore.
18. The Superintending Engineer,,
Medical College Maintenance Circle,
Public Works Department, Trichirappalli..
19. The Revenue Divisional Officer,
Pattukottai Division, Pattukottai,
Tanjore District..
20. The Deputy Director of Health,
Public Health and Preventive,
Medicines Department, Tanjore District.
21. The Executive Engineer,,
Grand Anaicut Canal Division,
Public Works Department, Tanjore District.
22. The Assistant Director of Agriculture,
Thiruvaiyaru Taluk,Tanjore District.
23. The Commissioner of Panchayat,
Thiruvonam Panchayat Union,
Tanjore District. ... Respondents 16 to 21/Respondents 8 to 13
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W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent, against the
order dated 26.07.2013 made in W.P(MD)No.12140 of 2013.
W.A(MD)No.793 of 2022:
1.The Secretary to Government,
Public Works Department,
Secretariat, Chennai -9.
2.The Superintending Engineer,
Water Resource Organization,
Public Works Department,
Trichy District. .... Appellants/Respondents 3 and 18
vs.
1. S. Swaminathan ... 1st respondent/writ petitioner No.21
2. R.Dowlathkhan
3. R.Veeraiyan
4. M.Sundar
5. S.Kasinathan
6. R.Kathiresan
7. P.Ramachandiran
8. M.Arokiasamy
9. R.Palanivel
10. B.Chandra Sekaran
11. S.Ramasamy
12. C.Thangappan
13. N.Ponpandian
14. S.Radhakrishnan
15. C.Natarajan
16. R.Parthasarathy
17. A.Thangavelu
18. M.Mariadoss
19. G.Amalraj
20. A.Muthu
21. M.Sivanathan ... Respondents 2 to 21/Petitioner Nos.1 to 20
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W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
22. M.Savirmuthu
23. N.Gopalakrishan
24. P.R.Venugopal
25. G.Kaliyamoorthy
26. P.Sakthivel
27. P.Sundaramoorthy ... Respondents 22 to 27/Petitioners 22 to 27
28. The Principal Secretary to Government,
Public Health Department,
Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
... Respondents 28 and 29/Respondent Nos.1 and 2
29. The Secretary to Government,,
Hindu Religious Endowment Department,
Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
30. The Secretary to Government,,
Agriculture Department,Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009..
31. The Secretary to Government,,
Forest Department, Secretariat,
Chennai- 600 009.
32. The Secretary to Government,,
Industries and Commerce Department,
Secretariat,, Chennai-600 009..
33. The Secretary to Government,,
School Education Department,Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009..
34. The Secretary to Government,,
Public Department, Secretariat,
Chennai-600 009.
35. The District Collector,
Trichirappalli, Trichirapalli District..
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W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
36. The Deputy Director of Public Health,
Trichirapalli 620 020,
Trichirappalli District.
37. The Joint Director of Public,
Health and Family Welfare,,
Headquarters Hospital, Trichirapalli,
Trichirapalli District.
38. The Assistant Commissioner of Hindu, Religious and Endowment Board,
Trichirapalli 620 002,
Trichirapalli District.
39. The Executive Engineer,
Public Works Department, Periyar Dam
Special Division, Cumbum,
Madurai District.
40. The Superintending Engineer,,
Agriculture Engineering Department,
Jail Corner, Trichirapalli 620 020,
Trichirapalli District.
41. The Secretary,
District Market Committee,
Agriculture Department,
199, Madurai Road,
Trichirapalli 620 008,
Trichirapalli District.
42. The Assistant Director For,
Ex-Service Men,, 19,
Wireless Road Contonment,
Trichirapalli 620 001,
Trichirappalli District..
43. The Superintending Engineer,,
Highways and Nabard Rural Roads Divison,
Trichirapalli, Trichirapalli District.
... Respondents 30 to 43/Respondents 4 to 17
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W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
44. The District Forest Officer,,
Court Complex,Trichirapalli,
Trichirapalli District.
45. The Manager,
District Industries Centre,
Trichirapalli, Trichirapalli District.
46. The District Educational Officer,
Collectorate Complex,
Trichirapalli 620 001,
Trichirapalli District. ... Respondents 44 to 46
Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent, against the
order dated 01.08.2013 made in W.P(MD)No.12866 of 2013.
For Appellants :Mr.S.P.Maharajan,
Special Government Pleader
For Respondents :Mr.S.Viswalingam
(For R2 & R10 in W.A(MD)No.791/2022)
(For R1 & R10 in W.A(MD)No.793/2022)
COMMON JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.S.SUNDAR, J.) Writ appeals in W.A(MD)Nos.791 and 792 of 2022 are filed challenging the order of the learned single Judge, dated 26.07.2013 in W.P(MD)No.12140 of 2013 and W.A(MD)No.793 of 2022 is filed against the https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 8 W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022 order, dated 01.08.2013 in W.P(MD)No.12866 of 2013.
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side. By consent of both parties, the writ appeals are disposed of at the admission stage itself.
3. It is now admitted before this Court that in similar cases, the Honourable Supreme Court has disposed of a batch of Civil Appeal by order dated 18.12.2019. It is appropriate to refer to the final order passed by the Honourable Supreme Court in S.L.P(Civil Nos.9533-9537 of 2019 which is in the following lines:
“5. As discussed supra, it has not been disputed before us that the drivers concerned were not entitled to any promotional avenues. Thus, it is evident that the High Court rightly concluded that the drivers were entitled to the full benefits of the appropriate pay scale under Schedule II of the 1998 Rules. However, in light of our foregoing finding that persons employed in the post of drivers in various departments in the Government of Tamil Nadu are only entitled to Ordinary, Selection and Special Grade pay scales in terms of Serial No. 6 of Schedule II of the 1998 Rules, i.e. at Rs. 3200-4900, Rs.4000-6000 and Rs. 4300-6000 respectively, we have no hesitation to hold that the High Court erred in directing fixation of such pay scales to drivers employed at the High Court in terms of Serial No. 8 of the Schedule II, fixing https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 9 W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022 Selection Grade and Special Grade scales of pay of Rs. 5000-8000 and Rs.5500- 9000 respectively.
6. The appeals are therefore allowed partly, to the extent that the State Government is directed to fix the pay scale benefits available to the Respondents in the instant appeals in terms of Serial No.6 of Schedule II of the 1998 Rules under G.O. Ms. No. 162.”
4. It is now represented before this Court by the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the appellants as well as Mr.S.Viswalingam, learned counsel appearing for the contesting respondents that by virtue of the direction of the Honourable Supreme Court in the order above referred to, the writ appeals are liable to be allowed.
5. Accordingly, the writ appeals are allowed and the State Government is directed to fix pay scale benefits available to the respondents in the instant appeals in terms of Serial No.6 of Schedule II of Tamil Nadu Revised Scale of Pay Rules, 1998 and G.O.Ms.No.162, Finance (Pay Cell) Department, dated 13.04.1998. No Costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.
[S.S.S.R., J.] [S.S.Y., J.]
25.07.2022
Index : Yes / No
pm
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 10 W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022 To:
1.The Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 9.
2.The Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Chepauk, Chennai – 5.
3.The Superintending Engineer, Medical College Maintenance Circle, Trichirapalli.
4.The Principal Secretary to Government, Agriculture Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 600009.
5.The Principal Secretary to Government, Public Health Department, Secretariat, Chennai – 600009.
6.The Commissioner of Agriculture, Chepauk, Chennai – 600 005.
7.The District Collector, Tanjore District, Tanjore.
8.The Executive Engineer, (Building Construction and Maintenance Division), Public Works Department, Tanjore, Tanjore District.
9.The Revenue Divisional Officer, Pattukottai Division, Pattukottai, Tanjore District.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 11 W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022
10.The Deputy Director of Health, Public Health and Preventive Medicines Department, Tanjore District.
11.The Executive Engineer, Grand Anaicut Canal Division, Public Works Department, Tanjore District.
12.The Assistant Director of Agriculture, Thiruvaiyaru Taluk, Tanjore District.
13.The Commissioner of Panchayat, Thiruvonam Panchayat Union, Tanjore District.
14.The Superintending Engineer, Water Resource Organization, Public Works Department, Trichy District.
15.The Executive Engineer, (Building Construction and Maintenance Division), Public Works Department, Tanjore, Tanjore District.
16.The Secretary to Government,, Hindu Religious Endowment Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
17. The Secretary to Government,, Forest Department, Secretariat, Chennai- 600 009.
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18. The Secretary to Government,, Industries and Commerce Department, Secretariat,, Chennai-600 009..
19. The Secretary to Government,, School Education Department,Secretariat, Chennai-600 009..
20. The Secretary to Government,, Public Department, Secretariat, Chennai-600 009.
21. The District Collector, Trichirappalli, Trichirapalli District..
22. The Deputy Director of Public Health, Trichirapalli 620 020, Trichirappalli District.
23. The Joint Director of Public, Health and Family Welfare,, Headquarters Hospital, Trichirapalli, Trichirapalli District.
24. The Assistant Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Endowment Board, Trichirapalli 620 002, Trichirapalli District.
25. The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Periyar Dam Special Division, Cumbum, Madurai District.
26. The Superintending Engineer,, Agriculture Engineering Department, Jail Corner, Trichirapalli 620 020, Trichirapalli District.
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27. The Secretary, District Market Committee, Agriculture Department, 199, Madurai Road, Trichirapalli 620 008, Trichirapalli District.
28. The Assistant Director For, Ex-Service Men, 19, Wireless Road Contonment, Trichirapalli 620 001, Trichirappalli District..
29. The Superintending Engineer,, Highways and Nabard Rural Roads Divison, Trichirapalli, Trichirapalli District.
30. The District Forest Officer,, Court Complex,Trichirapalli, Trichirapalli District.
31. The Manager, District Industries Centre, Trichirapalli, Trichirapalli District.
31. The District Educational Officer, Collectorate Complex, Trichirapalli 620 001, Trichirapalli District.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 14 W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022 S.S.SUNDAR, J.
and S.SRIMATHY, J.
pm W.A.(MD)Nos.791 to 793 of 2022 25.07.2022 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 15