Dismissed

P.Santhi v. the State of Tamil Nadu

Madras HC12 Jun 2026WP/21056/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioner challenged the reduction of his grade pay and order for salary recovery. The High Court disposed of the petition by directing the respondents to follow the directions issued in a previous batch of writ petitions, which mandated no recovery of excess pay already made and no action to re-fix pay until rule amendments.

What did the court decide?

No recovery of excess pay; re-fixation of pay suspended until rule amendments.

P.Santhi Vs the State of Tamil Nadu — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Madras HC (2026)

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 12-06-2026

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CORAM

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

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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and

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WMP Nos.22751, 22755 of 2026

P.Santhi,

W/o. K.Anbalagan

..Petitioner(s)

The State Of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Fort. St.George, Chennai- 600 009.

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The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. by its Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Fort. St.George, Chennai- 600 009.

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The Director of Elementary Education, O/o.The Director of Elementary Education, College Road, Chennai- 600 006.

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The District Educational Officer (Secondary) O/o.The District Educational Office, Dharmapuri District.

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The Headmaster, Government Higher Secondary School, Vellolai, Dharmapuri District- 636 809.

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..Respondent(s)

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__________ Page1 of 8

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

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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This writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus to call for the records of the 1st Respondent having Reference letter No. 11100/ Ele.Edn 1 (1) 2023- 1 dated 15.12.2023 and of the 4th Respondent vide ref. Oo. Mu. No.855/ Aa1/ 2026 dt 10.03.2026 reducing the pay scale of petitioner selection grade pay from PB 15600 - 39100 + 5400 grade pay granted to the petitioner from 11.08.2006 to the pay scale of PB 9300- 34800 + 4600 grade pay and ordering recovery of the excess amount paid to petitioner from 11.08.2006 notionally and from 01.01.2011 monetarily and to quash the same as arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to continue to pay the grade pay of Rs.5400/- to Petitioner sanctioned in the pay band of PB 15600 -39100 + 5400 with notional effect from 11.08.2006 and monetary effect from 01.01.2011.

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For Petitioner(s): Mr. K.Chandra For Respondent(s): Mr. A.R.Balaji, Gov. Advocate

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ORDER

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The writ petition has been filed for the following relief :

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“ to call for the records of the 1st Respondent having Reference letter No. 11100/ Ele.Edn 1 (1) 2023- 1 dated 15.12.2023 and of the 4th Respondent vide ref. Oo. Mu. No.855/ Aa1/ 2026 dt 10.03.2026 reducing the pay scale of petitioner selection grade pay from PB 15600 - 39100 + 5400 grade pay granted to the petitioner from 11.08.2006 to the pay scale of PB 9300- 34800 + 4600 grade pay and ordering recovery of the excess amount paid to petitioner from

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Page2 of 8

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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11.08.2006 notionally and from 01.01.2011 monetarily and to quash the same as arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents to continue to pay the grade pay of Rs.5400/- to Petitioner sanctioned in the pay band of PB 15600 -39100 + 5400 with notional effect from 11.08.2006 and monetary effect from 01.01.2011”

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Heard the learned counsels on both sides and perused the materials available on record.

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The issue involved in the present writ petition was earlier considered in

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a batch of writ petitions in W.P.No.12275 of 2024 dated 02.03.2026, wherein a similar relief was claimed. The learned Judge after hearing the arguments of both sides and discussing the relevant Rules and Government Orders in detail,

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had ultimately disposed of the writ petitions with directions. These directions are extracted herein below:

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85. In the result, all the writ petitions are disposed of with the following directions:-

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i) The impugned order directing the fixation of the selection grade/special grade scale of pay at the first promotional level and 2nd promotional level is set aside to the extent that there

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Page3 of 8

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

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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shall be no recovery of amount, which has already been paid, from the petitioners ;

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ii) Insofar as the petitioners, who have retired from service is concerned, no amount shall be recovered on the basis of the impugned order from the retiral benefits/pensionary benefits of the petitioners with regard to the amount already paid;

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iii) Insofar as the petitioners, who are still in service, no amount shall be recovered on the basis of the impugned order from the salary of the petitioners with regard to the amount already paid;

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iv) In case any amount has already been recovered from any of the petitioners towards excess payment made in the selection grade scale, the same shall be not refunded to the petitioners and the respondents shall refix the selection grade scale of pay of the said petitioners after amendment to FR 22~B and, thereafter, upon computation, if any amount is due and payable to any of petitioners, the same shall be paid by the respondents forthwith;

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v) Until FR 22B is amended so as to include the directions given in G.O. Ms. No.63305/Pay Cell/20101 dated 8.11.2010, more particularly para 4 (i) of the said Government Order, no action shall be taken by the respondents to refix the scale of pay of the petitioners and similarly placed persons;

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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vi) Subject to amendment, if any, that may be made to FR 22B, with reference to G.O. Ms. No.63305/Pay Cell/20201 dated 8.11.2020, the respondents are at liberty to revise the salary of the persons who are in service by refixing their scales of pay in the selection grade as also the pensionary benefits of the pensioners by refixing their scales of pay in selection grade in line with the amendments that may be made to FR 22B for computing the admissible pension payable based on para 4 (i) of G.O. Ms. No.63305/Pay Cell/20101 dated 8.11.2010, which shall be applicable only prospectively and not retrospectively;

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vii) Pursuant to the amendment, if any, made to FR 22B, upon refixation of the scales of pay of the petitioners, and computing the revised pay that the petitioners who are in service would be entitled to and the revised monthly pension that the retired petitioners would be entitled to, it is made clear that the petitioners would also be entitled for selection grade benefit in the post of HMMS upon completion of 10 years of service in the said post;

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viii) The grant of selection grade scale of pay in the post of HMMS shall be fixed after amendment to FR 22B and after refixing the selection grade scale of pay of the petitioners in the erstwhile post of HM~PS and monetary benefit, if any payable, shall be computed and paid to petitioners from the date when

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__________ Page5 of 8

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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they become eligible for such selection grade scale of pay, including arrears of pay.

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ix) The Accountant General is directed to compute the pension in the scale of pay which the petitioners were drawing on the date of their retirement, if not computed in the said scale, and pay the arrears of pension on the said higher scale to the retired petitioners, if not already paid;

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Since the facts on which the earlier writ were disposed of, it will suffice if the directions in the above order is followed. Accordingly, the present writ petition is disposed of in terms of the earlier order passed in W.P. No. 12275 of 2024 etc batch dated 02.03.2026. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.

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12-06-2026

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Index: Yes/No 2/3

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Speaking/Non-speaking order

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Neutral Citation: Yes/No

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MRP

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__________ Page6 of 8

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WP No. 21056 of 2026

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The Secretary to Government, The State Of Tamil Nadu School Education Department, Fort. St.George, Chennai- 600 009.

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The Secretary to Government, The State of Tamil Nadu Finance Department, Fort. St.George, Chennai- 600 009.

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The Director of Elementary Education O/o.The Director of Elementary Education, College Road, Chennai- 600 006.

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The District Educational Officer (Secondary) O/o.The District Educational Office, Dharmapuri District.

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The Headmaster Government Higher Secondary School, Vellolai, Dharmapuri District- 636 809.

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__________ Page7 of 8

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

WP No. 21056 of 2026

P.T.ASHA, J.

MRP

WP No. 21056 of 2026

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2/3

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12-06-2026

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__________ Page8 of 8

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

P.Santhi v. the State of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

P.Santhi v. the State of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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