Judgment :- 1. There is no representation for the petitioner. 2. The petitioner has approached this Court, with a prayer for issuance of a writ in the nature of Certiorari, to quash the impugned order of recovery passed by the 2nd respondent vide Na.Ka.No.146/2001 dated 17.08.2001, being violative of principles of natural justice. 3. The petitioner was appointed as Secondary Grade Head Master through employment exchange on 01.08.1961 and he worked as Head Master from 01.08.1961 to 01.06.1962 in the Mandapam Panchayat Union Middle School, Rettai Oorani, Ramanathapuram District. The petitioner was thereafter transferred as Head Master in Mandapam Panchayat Union Elementary School, Kattupillaiyar Koil, Rameswaram, where he worked upto 05.06.1966. He was again transferred to Singarathoppu Middle School, Mandapam Camp, Ramanathapuram District wherein he worked upto 04.06.1987. 4. The petitioner acquired B.Lit. Degree in the year 1987 as also B.Ed. Degree in the year 1988. He further acquired higher qualification M.A. In the year 1990 and M.Ed. in 1992. The petitioner, having acquired higher qualification, was granted advance increment as per the Government Order. 5. The case of the petitioner is that in the year 1991, the petitioner was absorbed as Tamil Pandit in Government Higher Secondary School, Uchipuli, Ramanathapuram District where he worked upto 31.05.1998 and retired from service on 31.05.1998 after availing extension in service of one year from the date of his superannuation. 6. By way of impugned order, third advanced increment granted to the petitioner was ordered to be recovered with effect from 31.05.1992. 7. The case of the petitioner is that this order has been passed without issuing show cause notice. 8. On consideration, I find that the writ petition deserves to succeed. Admittedly, there is no allegation of fraud or misrepresentation against the petitioner with regard to grant of third advanced increment. Furthermore, the impugned order was issued without issuing show cause notice to the petitioner, though it affects his civil right. 9. It is now well settled law that the benefit granted to an employee cannot be withdrawn even if granted wrongly, unless there are allegations of fraud or misrepresentation. It is also well settled that the order of recovery cannot be passed without following principles of natural justice. The impugned order is thus unsustainable in law. 10. Consequently, this writ petition is allowed. The impugned order is set aside. No costs.