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M.Sankaran, v. The Government of Tamilnadu

Madras HC17 Dec 2025WP(MD)/36075/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Village Administrative Officer hill area allowance winter allowance mandamus; W.P(MD)No.36075 of 2025; M.Sankaran v. Government of Tamilnadu (Finance Pay Cell Dept.), District Collector Tenkasi, District Revenue Officer Tenkasi, Tahsildar Shenkottai Taluk; representation dated 15.11.2025; G.O.Ms.No.306 dated 13.10.2017; G.O.Ms.No.49 dated 24.03.2003; hill stations altitude-based winter allowance rates; Karkudi Mekkarai Pudur Panpozhi Nagalkadu villages; eight weeks compliance direction; Madurai Bench Madras High Court; B.Pugalendhi J.; 17.12.2025.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition allowed with a direction to the respondents to provide eligible Hill Area Allowance and Winter Allowance to the petitioner for the period he served in the hill areas, within eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order; no costs. ¶46

M.Sankaran, Vs The Government of Tamilnadu — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

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W.P(MD)No.36075 of 2025

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED: 17.12.2025

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CORAM:

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI

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W.P(MD)No.36075 of 2025

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M.Sankaran ... Petitioner

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1.The Government of Tamilnadu, Represented by the Secretary to the Government, Finance(Pay Cell) Department, Fort St.George, Chennai - 600009.

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2.The District Collector, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.

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3.The District Revenue Officer, Tenkasi, Tenkasi District.

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4.The Tahsildar, Shenkottai Taluk, Tenkasi District.

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...Respondents

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PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing

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

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W.P(MD)No.36075 of 2025

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the respondents to consider the petitioner's representation dated 15.11.2025, and consequently to direct the respondents to disburse the Hill Area Allowance and Winter Allowance to the petitioner for the periods during which the petitioner served in the hill area villages, along with all arrears due from the date of eligibility till date under the G.O.Ms.No.306, dated 13.10.2017, within a time frame to be stipulated by this Court.

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For Petitioner : Mr.R.Manojkumar For Respondents : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar Special Government Pleader

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O R D E R

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The petitioner is working as a Village Administrative Officer in Nagalkadu Village, Shenkottai Taluk, Tenkasi District. He has served in several hill areas, such as, Karkudi, Mekkarai, Pudur Panpozhi and Nagalkadu Villages, within the limits of Shenkottai Taluk, for the period from 07.03.2008 to 14.04.2008, 30.06.2008 to 16.10.2010, 20.09.2015 to 16.08.2017, 17.08.2017 to 31.08.2018, 15.07.2022 to 01.07.2023, 28.08.2018 to 03.09.2019, 06.08.2014 to 19.09.2015, 01.07.2023 to 02.07.2024, 03.07.2024 to 02.07.2025

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

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W.P(MD)No.36075 of 2025

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and 03.07.2025 to till date. The Government vide G.O.Ms.No.306,

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Finance (Pay Cell) Department, dated 13.10.2017 has prescribed hill area allowance, winter allowance for employees, who served in notified hill areas as per G.O.Ms.No.49, Housing and Urban Development (UD 2.2), Department, dated 24.03.2003 as under:-

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Hill Area Allowance:-

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21.Hill Allowance shall be continued to be at the same rate of 20 percent of basic pay. However, the maximum ceiling limit of Hill Allowance shall be enhanced from Rs.1500/- per month to Rs. 6000/- per month.

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Winter Allowance:-

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Category	Revised Rates (per month for 4 months)
Hill stations situated in the altitude range of 1000-1499 meters above the Mean Sea Level	5% of basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs.1200/- p.m
Hill stations situated at al	10% of basic pay subject to a
altitude of 1500 meters and more above the Mean Sea Level	maximum of Rs.1500/- p.m

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Since this petitioner has served in hill areas as notified in the above Government order, he has submitted a representation, dated 15.11.2025, seeking hill area allowance as provided in the above

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

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W.P(MD)No.36075 of 2025

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mentioned Government order, however, it was not considered. Therefore, the petitioner has approached this Court.

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2.Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar, learned Special Government

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Pleader takes notice for the respondents.

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This Court considered the submissions made of the

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learned counsel for the petitioner and also perused the materials placed on record.

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4.The Government vide G.O.Ms.No.49, Housing and

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Urban Development (UD 2.2), Department, dated 24.03.2003 has notified certain villages as hill areas and also prescribed hill area allowance and winter allowance to the government servants, who served in those hill areas, vide G.O.Ms.No.306, Finance (Pay Cell) Department, dated 13.10.2017. The petitioner/ Village Administrative officer of Nagalkadu Village, Shenkottai Taluk has claimed that he has served in some of those hill areas and he has also

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

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W.P(MD)No.36075 of 2025

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submitted a representation, seeking hill area allowance and winter allowance to the respondents 2 to 4.

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5.This writ petition is allowed with a direction to the

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respondents to provide eligible hill area allowance and winter allowance to the petitioner, for the period, for which, he has served in the hill areas, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

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17.12.2025

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NCC: Yes/No Index:Yes/No vrn

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