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The State of Tamil Nadu v. K. Pappa Rajammal

Madras HC27 Jan 2026REV.APLC(MD)/2/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Madras High Court Madurai Bench review application Rev Aplc(MD)No.2 of 2021 under Section 114 read with Order 47 Rules 1 & 2 CPC; error apparent on face of record; Middle School Headmistress promotional post; Secondary Grade Teacher; Elementary School Headmistress; Selection Grade; Special Grade; pension refixation within eight weeks; retired teacher K.Pappa Rajammal; Department of School Education Tamil Nadu; reliance on W.A(MD)No.1718 of 2021; W.A(MD)No.1001 of 2014 order dated 20.08.2020 reviewed and interfered with.

What did the court decide?

Review Application allowed on terms: respondent's pension to be refixed granting her selection grade and special grade, appropriate refixation order within eight weeks from receipt of copy of this order; no costs; connected miscellaneous petition (C.M.P(MD)No.321 of 2021) closed. ¶30

The State of Tamil Nadu Vs K. Pappa Rajammal — Madras HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the order dated 20.08.2020 in W.A(MD)No.1001 of 2014 suffers from an error apparent on the face of the record and therefore necessarily calls for interference in this review. +1 more

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Court's answer

Given the holding in W.A(MD)No.1718 of 2021 that Middle School Headmistress is a promotional post and that service as Secondary Grade Teacher or Elementary School Headmistress cannot be counted towards Selection Grade or Special Grade in that post, the order dated 20.08.2020 in W.A(MD)No.1001 of 2014 suffers from an error apparent on the face of the record and necessarily calls for interference.

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Ratio / Principle

Having served as Secondary Grade Teacher / Elementary School Headmistress for 22 years, the respondent is entitled to both selection grade and special grade, and her pension shall be refixed accordingly, the refixation order being passed within eight weeks given her advanced age of 90 years.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Review Application under S.114 read with Order 47 Rules 1 & 2 CPC by the State education authorities allowed against the order dated 20.08.2020 in W.A(MD)No.1001 of 2014 concerning retired teacher K.Pappa Rajammal. Following the ruling in W.A(MD)No.1718 of 2021 that Middle School Headmistress is a promotional post and that service as Secondary Grade Teacher or Elementary School Headmistress cannot confer Selection/Special Grade in that post, the reviewed order was found to suffer from an error apparent on the face of the record. The Court nonetheless held that the respondent, with 22 years of service as Secondary Grade Teacher / Elementary School Headmistress, is entitled to selection grade and special grade, and directed refixation of her pension within eight weeks, noting she is said to be 90 years old. No costs; connected C.M.P(MD)No.321 of 2021 closed.

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Rev Aplc(MD)No.2 of 2021

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BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

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DATED : 27.01.2026

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CORAM

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.R.SWAMINATHAN

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AND

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THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE R.KALAIMATHI

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Rev Aplc(MD)No.2 of 2021 in

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W.A(MD)No.1001 of 2014 and C.M.P(MD)No.321 of 2021

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1.The State represented by The Principal Secretary to Government, Department of School Education, Fort St.George, Chennai.

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2.The Director of Elementary Education, College Road, Chennai – 600 006.

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3.The District Elementary Education Officer, Dindigul District, Dindigul. ... Review Applicants / Appellants

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Vs.

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K.Pappa Rajammal ... Respondent / Respondent

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Prayer: Review Application filed under Section 114 read with Order 47 r/w Rule 1 & 2 of C.P.C to review the order dated 20.08.2020 passed in W.A(MD)No.1001 of 2014 on the file of this Court and set aside the same.

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

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Rev Aplc(MD)No.2 of 2021

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For Applicants : Mr.T.Amjad Khan Government Advocate For Respondent : Ms.S.Devasena

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ORDER

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(Order of the Court was made by G.R.Swaminathan J.)

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Heard both sides.

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2.This Review Application has been filed to review the order dated 20.08.2020 made in W.A(MD)No.1001 of 2014. The basic facts are not in dispute. Pappa Rajammal, the writ petitioner herein joined as Secondary Grade Teacher on 06.07.1960. She was appointed as Elementary School Headmistress on 01.01.1974. She was promoted as Middle School Headmistress on 23.02.1982. She retired from service on 31.05.1995.

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3.Vide order dated 27.01.2026 made in W.A(MD)No.1718 of 2021, it has been held that since the post of Middle School Headmistress is a promotional post, the service rendered by a Government servant as a Secondary Grade Teacher or as an Elementary School Headmistress cannot be taken into account for the purpose of conferring Selection

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

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Rev Aplc(MD)No.2 of 2021

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Grade or Special Grade in the post of Middle School Headmistress. Therefore, the order under review necessarily calls for interference, as it suffers from an error apparent on the face of the record.

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4.However, since Pappa Rajammal had served as Secondary Grade Teacher / Headmistress Elementary School for 22 years, she would be entitled not only to selection grade but also special grade. Hence, her pension will have to be accordingly refixed. Since Pappa Rajammal is said to be 90 years old, appropriate order shall be passed by refixing her pension within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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5.This Review Application is allowed on these terms. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

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[G.R.S., J.] [R.K.M, J.] 27.01.2026

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NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes/ No MGA

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

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Rev Aplc(MD)No.2 of 2021