Disposed

P.Palaniappan v. The Secretary to Government

Madras HC24 Sept 2025WP(MD)/28560/2023

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Four retired police personnel challenged re-fixation of pay and recovery of alleged excess payments. Following an earlier Single Judge order in a similar matter, the court directed notice and hearing before re-fixation, no recovery if entitled, else 50% recovery with 50% waived.

What did the court decide?

Directions: notice and hearing before re-fixation; no recovery if petitioner entitled; otherwise only 50% recoverable, 50% waived.

P.Palaniappan Vs The Secretary to Government — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Madras HC (2025)

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 24.09.2025

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE ABDUL QUDDHOSE

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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and

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W.M.P.(MD)Nos.24616, 24629, 24634 & 24771 of 2023

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W.P.(MD)No.28560 of 2023:

P.Palaniappan

: Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Secretary to Government,

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Finance (Pay Cell Department),

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Fort St. George,

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Chennai – 600 009.

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2.The Director General of Police,

Kamarajar Salai,

Mylapore,

Chennai – 600 004.

3.The Commissioner of Police,

Madurai City,

Madurai.

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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4.The Principal Accountant General (A&E),

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No.361, Anna Salai,

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Chennai – 600 018. : Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records on the file of the third respondents in connection with the impugned order of re-fixation of pay and order of recovery passed by him vide his proceedings in C.No.P2(1)/39865/2022 dated 03.10.2022 and in Na.Ka.No.B2(3)/43926/2022 dated 13.10.2022 respectively and quash them as illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to refix the petitioner's pay and pension on par with his batchmates and juniors and thereby direct them to reimburse the recovered amount of Rs.30,942/- in the light of the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Punjab & others Vs. Rafiq Masih (White Washer) and others reported in 2015 (4) SCC 334 and pay enhanced pension within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.G.Thalaimutharasu

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For Respondents 1 to 3 : Mr.S.Shaji Bino,

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Special Government Pleader For Respondent No.4 : Mr.P.Gunasekaran Standing Counsel

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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W.P.(MD)No.28580 of 2023:

S.Balakrishnan

: Petitioner

Vs.

1.The Secretary to Government, Finance (Pay Cell Department), Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

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2.The Director General of Police, Kamarajar Salai, Mylapore,

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Chennai – 600 004.

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3.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai.

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4.The Principal Accountant General (A&E), No.361, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 018. : Respondents

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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the impugned return of pension proposal by the 4^th respondent vide his proceedings in No.P04/4/10431105/ADK/139 dated 05.12.2022 and impugned order of recovery passed by the 3^rd respondent in Na.Ka.No.B3(2)/47/18764/2023 dated 26.04.2023 and quash them as illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to refix my pay and pension on par with my batchmates and juniors and thereby direct them to reimburse the recovered amount of Rs.34,200/- in the light of the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Punjab & others Vs. Rafiq Masih (White Washer) and others reported in 2015 (4) SCC 334 and pay enhanced pension within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.G.Thalaimutharasu For Respondents 1 to 3 : Mr.S.Shaji Bino, Special Government Pleader For Respondent No.4 : Mr.P.Gunasekaran Standing Counsel

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W.P.(MD)No.28586 of 2023:

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S.Selvaraj : Petitioner

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Vs.

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1.The Secretary to Government, Finance (Pay Cell Department), Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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2.The Director General of Police,

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Kamarajar Salai, Mylapore,

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Chennai – 600 004.

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3.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai.

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4.The Principal Accountant General (A&E), No.361, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 018. : Respondents

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respectively and quash them as illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to refix the petitioner's pay and pension on par with my batchmates and juniors and thereby direct them to 5/13

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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reimburse the recovered amount of Rs.28,584/- in the light of the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Punjab & others Vs. Rafiq Masih (White Washer) and others reported in 2015 (4) SCC 334 and pay enhanced pension within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.G.Thalaimutharasu

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For Respondents 1 to 3 : Mr.S.Shaji Bino,

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Special Government Pleader For Respondent No.4 : Mr.P.Gunasekaran Standing Counsel

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W.P.(MD)No.28725 of 2023:

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V.Muthukrishnan : Petitioner

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Vs.

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1.The Secretary to Government, Finance (Pay Cell Department), Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

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2.The Director General of Police, Kamarajar Salai, Mylapore,

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Chennai – 600 004.

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3.The Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai.

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4.The Principal Accountant General (A&E), No.361, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 018. : Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records on the file of the 4^th and 3^rd respondents in connection with the impugned return of pension proposal by the 4^th respondent vide his proceedings in No.P04/2/10430348/ADK dated 27.07.2022 and impugned order of re-fixation of pay and recovery by the 3^rd respondent in C.No.P2(1)/34901/2022 dated 17.08.2022 and in Na.Ka.No.B2(5)/40046/114/2022 dated 30.09.2022, respectively and quash them as illegal, arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to refix the petitioner's pay and pension on par with his batchmates and juniors and thereby direct them to reimburse the recovered amount of Rs.47,592/- in the light of the order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Punjab & others Vs. Rafiq Masih (White Washer) and others reported in 2015 (4) SCC 334 and

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this Court.

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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pay enhanced pension within the time limit that may be stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.G.Thalaimutharasu For Respondents 1 to 3 : Mr.S.Shaji Bino, Special Government Pleader For Respondent No.4 : Mr.P.Gunasekaran Standing Counsel

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COMMON ORDER

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These Writ Petitions have been filed challenging the impugned re-fixation of pay orders as well as the recovery orders recovering the excess payments alleged to have been made to the respective petitioners.

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2. Since the issue involved in all the Writ Petitions are one and the same, these Writ Petitions are disposed of by a common order.

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3. The respective petitioners have challenged the impugned orders on the ground of violation of principles of natural justice and they also claim that the impugned re-fixation orders and the impugned recovery orders are bad in law. According to the

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W.P.(MD)Nos.28560, 28580, 28586 & 28725 of 2023

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respective petitioners, the impugned recovery orders have been passed in violation of the decision rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of State of Punjab and others Vs. Rafiq Masih (White Washer) reported in (2015) 4 SCC 334 . Learned Counsel for the petitioners has also placed on record an order dated 17.04.2023 passed by another learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.[Md]No.8491 of 2023, involving a similarly placed person who had also challenged similar impugned orders. As seen from the said order, on account of violation of principles of natural justice, the following directions were issued by this Court on 17.04.2023 in W.P. (MD)No.8491 of 2023:

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“a)As far as the re-fixation is concerned, the respondents shall issue notice to the petitioner and pass orders, after giving opportunity to the petitioner.

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b)As far as the recovery amount is concerned, if the outcome of the enquiry proceedings stated above indicates that the petitioner is entitled to, then the amount shall not be recovered.

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c)If the outcome of the enquiry is that the petitioner is not entitled to, then the respondent shall recover 50% of the said amount and 50% shall be waived.”

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4. Learned Standing Counsel for the fourth respondent would submit that the order dated 17.04.2023 passed in W.P. (MD)No.8491 of 2023, which is a connected Writ Petition has been adhered to and fully implemented.

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5. Therefore, no prejudice will be caused to the respondents if a similar direction is issued in these Writ Petitions as well. Accordingly, the following directions are issued by this Court in these Writ Petitions:

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a)As far as the re-fixation is concerned, the third respondent shall issue notice to the petitioner and pass orders, after giving opportunity to the petitioner.

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b)As far as the recovery amount is concerned, if the outcome of the enquiry proceedings stated above indicates that the petitioner is entitled to, then the amount shall not be recovered.

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c)If the outcome of the enquiry is that the petitioner is not entitled to, then the respondents shall recover 50% of the said amount and 50% shall be waived.”

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6. With the aforesaid directions, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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24.09.2025 Index :Yes / No Internet : Yes / No NCC : Yes/No MR

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