Allowed¶23

Harikrishnan v. the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies

Madras HC26 Mar 2026WP/12423/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ of mandamus; terminal benefits arrears; Provident Fund balance; gratuity unpaid; cooperative society employee; retirement/superannuation dues; Karunkuzh Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Housing Society; Cuddalore; Joint Registrar and Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies; Administrator; representations unanswered; 12-week disbursal deadline; admissible interest from date of retirement; 18% interest sought in prayer; Article 226 Constitution of India; Harikrishnan; P.T. Asha J.; WP No. 12423 of 2025; allowed, no costs.

What did the court decide?

Mandamus issued: respondents to consider the petitioner's representations and disburse the terminal benefits and PF amounts due within 12 weeks of receipt of a copy of the order, along with admissible interest from the date of retirement till disbursal; no costs. ¶23

Harikrishnan Vs the Joint Registrar of Cooperative… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed, by writ of mandamus under Article 226, to pay the petitioner's arrears of terminal benefits and Provident Fund amount with interest (18% sought in the prayer), due from 29.10.2019, by considering his representation.

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Court's answer

This Court directs the respondents to consider the petitioner's representations and disburse the amounts which the petitioner is entitled to within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

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Ratio / Principle

The disbursal is to carry admissible interest from the date of the petitioner's retirement till the date of disbursal of the amount to the petitioner.

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Key takeaways

With the above directions, the writ petition is allowed; no costs.ratio¶23

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (P.T. Asha, J.), WP No. 12423 of 2025, decided 26-03-2026: A retired Secretary of the Karunkuzh Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Housing Society, who superannuated on 30.06.2013 and received only leave salary of Rs.2,02,000/- and his own PF contribution of Rs.35,000/-, with balance PF, gratuity and other terminal benefits unpaid despite representations from 19.07.2021 through 23.01.2025, sought a writ of mandamus under Article 226 for payment of arrears of terminal benefits and Provident Fund with 18% interest due from 29.10.2019. Noting over 13 years of inaction by the respondents despite repeated representations, the Court directed them to consider the representations and disburse the amounts due within 12 weeks of receipt of a copy of the order, together with admissible interest from the date of retirement till disbursal. Writ petition allowed; no costs.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 26-03-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA

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WP No. 12423 of 2025

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Harikrishnan S/o.Chinnasamy, 743, Reddiyar Street, Karunkuzhi Village Cuddalore District.

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..Petitioner

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The Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies Cuddalore Region, Cuddalore, Cuddalore District.

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The Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies Cuddalore Region, Cuddalore Cuddalore District.

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The Administrator Karunkuzh Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Housing Society, Karunkuzh, Cuddalore District.

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..Respondents

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PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to pay arrears of terminal benefits and Provident Fund amount along with 18% interest which has fallen due from 29.10.2019 to the petitioner by considering the petitioner’s representation dated 23.01.2024 within stipulated time fixed by this Court

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

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For Petitioner:

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Mr.S.Sairaman

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For Respondents: Mr.A.M.Ayyathurai Government Advocate for R1 & R2

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ORDER

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The writ petition has been filed seeking a mandamus to the respondents to pay arrears of terminal benefits and Provident Fund amount along with 18% interest, which is due from 29.10.2019 to till date, by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 23.01.2024.

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The petitioner had joined the 3^rd respondent-Society as Clerk and was elevated to the post of Secretary and had retired on 30.06.2013 on attaining the age of superannuation. The petitioner would submit that he was paid only the Leave salary to the tune of Rs.2,02,000/- and his contribution of Provident Fund amount to the tune of Rs.35,000/-, however, he was not paid the balance PF amount, gratuity amount, etc., Therefore, the petitioner had submitted his representations to the respondents on 19.07.2021, 19.12.2021, 19.08.2024, 07.11.2024, 27.12.2024 and 23.01.2025, requesting to release the balance amount of terminal benefits and PF amount. But there was no response from the respondents. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.

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

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Considering the fact that the petitioner had retired from service on 30.06.2013

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and had submitted his representations on several occasions, despite which, no action has been taken by the respondents for over 13 years, this Court directs the respondents to consider the representations of the petitioner and disburse the amounts which the petitioner is entitled to within a period of 12 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order along with admissible interest from the date of petitioner's retirement till the date of disbursal of amount to the petitioner.

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