A Village Administrative Officer belonging to Group-C service challenged a Tahsildar's order directing refund of special allowance paid for additional charge work. The Court held recovery from Group-C employees impermissible per Supreme Court law and the order was passed without notice, set it aside and allowed the writ petition.
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W.P.No.11280 of 2018
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 29.01.2024
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND
W.P.No.11280 of 2018 and W.M.P.No.13178 of 2018
M.Satya
... Petitioner
Versus
1.The Tahsildar Kottagiri, Kottagiri Post, The Nilgiris – 643 217.
2.The Collector of Nilgiris Udhagamandalam The Nilgiris District – 643 001.
... Respondents
Writ petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records relating to the impugned proceedings dated 13.03.2018 in Na.Ka.A1 No.345/2018 passed by the 1st respondent herein and quash the same.
For Petitioner : M/s.A.Bobblie For Respondents : Mr.E.Vijay Anand, AGP
O R D E R
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional
Government Pleader for the respondents and perused the materials available on record.
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2. The case of the petitioner is that she was appointed as Village Administrative Officer on 17.04.2012 and after completing Trainings in various villages in Nilgiris District. Whileso, the petitioner was serving at Nedukula-I Village holded additional in charge for Nedukula-II Village from 22.09.2012 to 25.02.2013 as per the direction issued by the 1 st respondent. Thereafter, the petitioner claimed payment for the work done as VAO, additional in charge for the aforesaid period, the claim was processed and approved by the 1 st respondent and forwarded to the Treasury Officer and after due verification a sum of Rs.13,868/was paid during January 2014.
3. Subsequently, the petitioner received a notice in Na.Ka.A1.No.345/2018 dated 13.03.2018 issued by the 1 st respondent stating that the employees belonging to Group-C service are not eligible to get the payment for the work done as additional in charge and only the Group “A” and “B” service employees are eligible for the payment and directed to repay the amount received immediately. Thereafter, the petitioner made a representation dated 18.04.2018 to the 1 st respondent, praying to drop the proceedings for recovery. As there is no response from the respondents, left with no other alternative remedy, the petitioner filed the present writ petition.
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4. The first respondent filed counter, wherein it is averred that the petitioner had submitted application dated 18.04.2018 knowing fully well that he belongs to Group-C service and not eligible to get payment for additional in charge work as per GO.MS.No.122 dated 03.10.2011. It is also clarified that additional payment can be sanctioned for holding full additional charge of one or more posts to Group A and B officers and Group C and D employees were not eligible for additional pay for holding full additional charge. It is further submitted that it is an undeserved monetary benefit which was paid to the petitioner and not excess payment. Hence, the learned counsel prays for dismissal of the writ petition.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the action of the 1st respondent asking to repay the entire amount paid to the petitioner for the work done as VAO additional in charge for the period from 22.09.2012 to 25.02.2013 without issuing any show cause notice is arbitrary and unsustainable in law.
6. The learned counsel further contends that the impugned order is erroneous,
in view of the fact that the petitioner worked as VAO additional in charge as per the directions given by the 1 st respondent.
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7. On the other hand, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents submits that the additional pay can be sanctioned for holding one or more posts to Group A & B officers only, Group C & D employees were not eligible for additional pay for holding full additional charge. The petitioner has wrongly claimed the said amount by misrepresentation. It is not excess payment made to the petitioner, as such, the learned counsel sought for dismissal of the writ petition.
8. It is an undisputed fact, while the petitioner was serving as VAO at Nedukula-I Village, she was given additional in charge of Nedukula-II village from 22.09.2012 to 25.02.2013, for holding additional in charge post, the petitioner was paid an amount of Rs.13,868/- as special allowance. By impugned proceedings dated 13.03.2018, the 1 st respondent directed the petitioner to refund the amount paid to her towards special allowances for holding additional in charge.
9. This Court gave anxious consideration to the submissions made by the respective counsels and carefully perused the materials available on record including the reliance placed by the learned counsel for the petitioner.
respondent did not choose to issue show cause notice to the petitioner calling for her https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
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explanation. It is settled law that without issuing any notice to the aggrieved party, passing an order is in violation of the principles of natural justice. As such, in our considered view, the order impugned in this writ petition is passed in violation of the principles of natural justice.
judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in Rafiq Masih (White Washer) (supra) , is extracted hereinunder:
“18. It is not possible to postulate all situations of hardship, which would govern employees on the issue of recovery, where payments have mistakenly been made by the employer, in excess of their entitlement. Be that as it may, based on the decisions referred to herein above, we may, as a ready reference, summarise the following few situations, wherein recoveries by the employers, would be impermissible in law:
(i) Recovery from employees belonging to Class-III and Class-IV service (or Group C and Group D service).
(ii) Recovery from retired employees, or employees who
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are due to retire within one year, of the order of recovery.
(iii) Recovery from employees, when the excess payment has been made for a period in excess of five years, before the order of recovery is issued.
(iv) Recovery in cases where an employee has wrongfully been required to discharge duties of a higher post, and has been paid accordingly, even though he should have rightfully been required to work against an inferior post.
(v) In any other case, where the Court arrives at the conclusion, that recovery if made from the employee, would be iniquitous or harsh or arbitrary to such an extent, as would far outweigh the equitable balance of the employers right to recover.”
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the light of the authorities cited supra, this Court has no hesitation to hold that the action of the first respondent in issuing the impugned order of recovery is illegal, arbitrary and unjust and in violation of the principles of natural justice and accordingly, the impugned order is hereby set aside.
17. There shall be no order as to costs.
29.01.2024
Index :Yes/No Neutral Citation :Yes/No
tsh
To 1.The Tahsildar Kottagiri, Kottagiri Post, The Nilgiris – 643 217.
2.The Collector of Nilgiris Udhagamandalam The Nilgiris District – 643 001.
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BATTU DEVANAND, J.
tsh
W.P.No.11280 of 2018
29.01.2024.
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2 issues framed by the court
Whether recovery of special allowance paid to a Group-C employee for holding additional charge is permissible in law.
Whether the impugned recovery order passed without show cause notice violates principles of natural justice.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
State of Punjab v. Rafiq Masih (White Washer)Followed¶12
Rafiq Masih (White Washer) (supra)
W.P.No.6945 of 2022, dated 26.06.2023Relied on¶11
W.P.(MD) No.16106 of 2016, dated 20.07.2023Relied on¶11
1 provisions across 1 enactments
M.Satya
The Tahsildar, Kottagiri
The Collector of Nilgiris
Battu Devanand
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
