The court dismissed a writ petition seeking a direction to release terminal service benefits. It held that since the petitioner was retained in service due to a pending criminal case, no legal right existed to claim benefits at that stage.
Writ petition dismissed with directions to release no benefits but no order as to costs.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED :11.03.2019
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE S.M.SUBRAMANIAM
W.P.No.9292 of 2018
A.Duraisamy
..Petitioner
vs
1.The District Collector, Tiruppur District, Tirruppur.
2.The Revenue Divisional Officer Dharapuram Tiruppur District. ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the 2nd respondents to release all terminal benefits including the General Provident Fund, Special Provident Fund, Gratuity, Encashment of Earned Leave Salary on Private affairs and other statutory benefits etc., based on the petitioner representation dated 01.03.2018., along with interest within a stipulated time fixed by the Hon'ble Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.C.Rajaguru For Respondents : Mr.R.S.Selvam Government Advocate for R1 & R2 O R D E R
The relief sought for in the present writ petition is for a direction to direct the 2nd respondent to release all terminal benefits including the General Provident Fund, Special Provident Fund, Gratuity, Encashment of Earned Leave Salary on Private affairs and other statutory benefits etc., based on the petitioner representation dated 01.03.2018.
2.Admittedly, the writ petitioner, who was holding the Post of Village Administrative Officer is now facing a criminal case in S.C.No.5 of 2006 on the file of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Dindugal.
3.It is brought to the notice of this Court that the writ
petitioner was not allowed to retire from service on account of the fact that the criminal case is pending against him. The writ petitioner has been retained in service as per the Fundamental Rules 56(1)(c) and the service benefits are withheld. Under these circumstances, the writ petitioner is entitled to claim the retirement and terminal benefits only after the disposal of the criminal case and the departmental disciplinary proceedings, if any initiated.
4.Under these circumstances, pendency of a criminal case is a bar for settlement and the terminal and retirement benefits as the writ petitioner was not allowed to retire from service and he had retained in service.
5.This being the factum, the relief as such sought for cannot be granted. Even to issue a direction to consider the representation, the writ petitioner has to establish that he is entitled to get the terminal and service benefits. In the absence of any such legal right, no such direction can be issued.
6.Accordingly, the writ petition is devoid of merits and stands dismissed. However, there shall be no order as to costs. Sd/Assistant Registrar (CS-VIII) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar kak To 1.The District Collector, Tiruppur District, Tirruppur. 2.The Revenue Divisional Officer Dharapuram Tiruppur District. +1cc to Mr.C.Rajaguru, Advocate, S.R.No.22685 +1cc to the Government Pleader, S.R.No. 23174
W.P.No.9292 of 2018 CP(CO) GN(04/04/2019)
1 issue framed by the court
Whether a Writ of Mandamus can be issued to a departmental official to release terminal benefits when the employee is retained in service due to a pending criminal case.
1 provisions across 1 enactments
A. Duraisamy
The District Collector, Tiruppur District
The Revenue Divisional Officer Dharapuram
S.M.Subramaniam
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
