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2006 DIGILAW 1078 (MAD)

K. C. Govindan v. The Government of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Secretary & Others

2006-04-17

M.JAICHANDREN

body2006
Judgment :- (The Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus as stated therein.) The Writ Petition has been filed praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the order of the fourth respondent issued in Roc.(M3)/40061/05, dated 31.07.2005, and to quash the same and consequently direct the respondents herein to permit the petitioner to continue in service as Headmaster cum Warden of GTR Middle School, Varam, Kalrayan Hills, Sankarapuram Taluk, Villupuram District. 2. It is the case of the petitioner that he belongs to the Scheduled Caste Community and he was appointed as Secondary Grade Teacher on 04.11.1970 at the Government Elementary School. After serving in such capacity at various Government Elementary Schools, he was promoted as a Headmaster and posted at Adi Dravidar Welfare School, Rangamangalam, Cuddalore Taluk on 01.06.1988. Later, he was transferred and posted as Headmaster and Warden, Government Tribal Elementary School, Varam, Kalrayan Hills at Sankarapuram Taluk, Villupuram District. Further, the petitioner had reached the age of superannuation on 31.07.2005. Before attaining the age of superannuation, the petitioner had worked for more than 34 years. The petitioner has an unblemished record of service and had discharged his duties to the utmost satisfaction of the authorities concerned. The petitioner is also physically and mentally fit to continue in service, atleast till the end of the academic year. Before his retirement, the petitioner had made a representation through his letter, dated 01.06.2005 seeking re-employment till the end of the academic year. i.e., 03.05.2006 . The said letter was addressed to the fourth respondent and the petitioner had also sent a further reminder on 11.07.2005. 3. The petitioner further states that in respect of re-employment, the first respondent, government had passed G.O.Ms.No.2 49, dated 09.02.1959 and G.O.Ms.No.1712, dated 5.8.1976, making it clear that the teacher who had reached the age of superannuation during the middle of the academic year should be allowed to continue in service on re-employment terms till the date of closure of the school for the summer vacation, provided their work and conduct are satisfactory and they are physically fit to continue in the service . 4. 4. It is further stated that the petitioner has obtained a medical certificate from the Joint Director of Medical and Rural Health Services and Family Welfare, Villupuram, on 09.06.2005, certifying that the petitioner is reasonably healthy and as such possesses the physical capacity and mental alertness to continue discharging his duties satisfactorily even after attaining the age of 58 years. Moreover, the Special Tahsildar, Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare through his proceedings Na.Ka.No.A/858/05, dated 29.06.2005, had recommended for the extension of petitioner's service till the end of the academic year. While so, the fourth respondent had passed an order in Roc(M3)/40061/2 005, dated 31.07.2005, without considering the petitioner's representation seeking for re-employment. By the said order of the fourth respondent, dated 31.07.2005, the petitioner was permitted to retire from government service on the after noon of 31.07.2005 on attaining the age of superannuation after deducting a sum of Rs.2,51,627/- for the excess claim made by him. The petitioner further states that even though the fourth respondent has made the order for deducting the said sum, the first respondent government has passed G.O.Ms.No.160, dated 23.08.2005, protecting the said payment. 5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as for the respondents. 6. The learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance on the decision rendered by a Division Bench of this Court, dated 6.9.19 94, in Writ Appeal No.1179 of 1993 (batch) in the case of S. Sundaram Vs The Secretary, C.S.I Diocese of Madras, Chennai and others wherein, it has been held as follows ;- "9. We have already re-produced the relevant Govt. Orders. Those Govt. Orders are to be read as a whole. An analysis of the aforesaid Govt. Orders would disclose that re-employment is for ensuring continuity of benefits to teaching from the same teachers to the students during the academic year, that it is a re-employment and not continuity of service of fulfilling the conditions that the work and conduct are satisfactory, that they are physically found fit for further service and that no disciplinary proceedings are pending against them. Thus it is clear that neither a fresh teacher nor a teacher who is not fit to be continued, is imposed upon the institution. Thus it is clear that neither a fresh teacher nor a teacher who is not fit to be continued, is imposed upon the institution. It is the very same teacher whose work and conduct are found to be satisfactory and who is physically found to be fit for further service and against whom no disciplinary proceedings is pending, is directed to be continued on re-employment basis during the remaining period of that academic year. Further Section 14 of the Tamil Nadu Recognised Private Schools (Regulation) Act, 1973, makes it incumbent upon the management which receives aid from the State Govt. to abide by the orders that are issued from time to time by the State Govt. of course, subject to them being in conformity with the right guaranteed on the minority institutions under Article 30 of the Constitution. " 6.1. In the case of C. Harris Vs. District Elementary Educational Officer, Coonoor, Nilgiris District and another reported in (2006) 1 M. L.J.652, a learned judge of this Court, quoting various decisions has held that the right of a teacher to continue in service till the end of the academic year in case of his/her date of retirement falling in the middle of the academic year is well settled. In such a case, the teacher ought to be permitted to continue till the end of the academic year unless, found to be disqualified otherwise. 7. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents has pointed out that the petitioner on attainment of the age of superannuation was permitted to retire from Government service on the afternoon on 31.07.2005, under F.R.56(1) with a condition to deduct a sum of Rs.2,51,627/- for the excess claim by him pending to the Government, in one lump sum from his D.C.R.G. He further contends that, in any case, the amount due from the petitioner is liable to be recovered from the petitioner. 8. 8. On a perusal of the documents placed before this Court and on hearing the arguments of the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as for the respondents and placing reliance on the decided cases cited during the course of the hearing, this court is of the considered view that the impugned order passed by the fourth respondent issued in Roc.(M3)/40061/05, dated 31.07.2005, is liable to be quashed in so far as it permits the petitioner to retire from service from 31.07.2 005, and the petitioner ought to be re-employed in service as Headmaster cum Warden of GTR Middle School, Varam, Kalrayan Hills, Sankarapuram Taluk, Villupuram District, till the end of the academic year 20 05-2006 as contemplated in G.O.Ms.No.249, dated 09.02.1959, and G.O. Ms.No.1712, dated 05.08.1976, with all attendant monetary and other benefits. To the extent mentioned above, the impugned proceedings of the fourth respondent Roc.(M3)/40061/05, dated 31.07.2005, is set aside. Therefore, the writ petition is allowed. Consequently, the connected WPMP is closed. No costs.