Wp Allowed . JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN W.P.Nos.17126, 17135 and 17253 of 2024 and W.M.P.Nos.18902,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 08.07.2024
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN
W.P.Nos.17126, 17135 and 17253 of 2024 and W.M.P.Nos.18902, 18909 and 19037 of 2024
W.P.No.17126 of 2024:-
1. V.Gunasekaran
2. D.Varadaraju
3. R.Siddarthan
4. P.Murugavel
5. M.Ramachandiran
6. G.Kannadasan … Petitioners
-Vs-
1. Union of India, represented by its
Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
2. The Finance Secretary,
Chief Secretariat, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
3. The Secretary,
Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs
-cum-Chairman (PAPSCO), Puducherry.
4. The Director (Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs),
Puducherry.
5. The Managing Director,
PAPSCO, Puducherry. … Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to disburse arrears of salary, due to the petitioners from February, 2018 to till the date of retirement and also all terminal benefits, along with 18 percentage interest.
W.P.No.17135 of 2024:-
1. C.Lourdenadin
2. G.Seethalakshmi
3. A.Baby
4. S.Kalavathi
5. B.Pannerselvam
6. R.Radhika … Petitioners
-Vs-
1. Union of India, represented by its
Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
2. The Finance Secretary,
Chief Secretariat,
Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
3. The Secretary,
Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs
-cum-Chairman (PAPSCO), Puducherry.
4. The Director (Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs), Puducherry.
5. The Managing Director,
PAPSCO, Puducherry. … Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to disburse arrears of salary, due to the petitioners’ spouse, from February, 2018 to till the date of their spouse death and all other benefits including Gratuity, Leave Encashment, EPF, ELDI along with 18 percentage interest.
W.P.No.17253 of 2024:-
1. S. Sivasankaran
2. S. Vimala
3. P. Ramakrishnan
4. A.Tamizselvi
5. G.Sivaperumal
6. S.Dhanalakshmi
7. M.Manikavassagame
8. Roukmany
9. P.Rajeswari
10. R. Manivannan
11. R. Jayaseelan
12. C.Viramouttou
13. P.Shankar
14. R.Vassou
15. E.Jothii
16. S.Murugavel
17. S.Jayanthi
18. A.Sekar
19. G.Amuthalakshi
20. M.Jayaprakash
21. N. Vasanthi
22. T. Lalitha Rajalakshnmi
23. P.Nakkeeran 24. K.Nataraj
25. S. Amirtham
26. P.Viswanathan
27. R.Anbarasu
28. S. Gurunathan
29. K.Ajagappaatchary
30. M.Gunasekaran
31. M.Lakshmi
32. C. KoumaRamsamy
33. V. Murugan
34. V.M.Selvaraj
35. S. Santhi
36. R. Jayanthi
37. N. Anjalatchi
38. C. Ammudhavalli
39. S. Amutha
40. M.Aruljothi
41. S. Djayalakshmi @Padam
42. G. Rajalakshmi
43. D. Ammakannu
44. M.Presyjaganathan
45. S.Poonjolai
46. S.Rajeswari
47. V. Patchaiyammal
48. G. Govidaraju
49. N.Mathivanan
50. A. SusaiMery
51. D.Chitra
52. P.Rani
53. A. Sengeni @ Santhi
54. N.Arjunan
55. M.Marceugene
56. G. Vijayalakshmi
57. S. Jaisankar
58. V. Vijayakumar
59. S. Jeevarathiam
60. P. Selvaraj
61. V. Amsavalli
62. G. Nataraj
63. K.Palani
64. Z. Loganathan
65. D. Badmanaban
66. E.Adittane
67. T. Kaliyamorthy
68. T. Gunasrkar
69. K. Adhilakshmi
70. E. Dhanalakshmi
71. P.Anjalatchi
72. S.Dhanalakshmi
73. R.Malarvizhi
74. P.Nikkalkumar
75. M.Rahmathulla
76. S. Devagi
77. S. Datchayani
78. S. Kalavani
79. B.Sugumar
80. R. Ilamprai
81. G. Narayanasamy
82. G. Alamelu
83. M. Kalaiselvy
84. R. Ramesh
85. N. Balu
86. D. Mummoorthy
87. M. Bathmadegaule
88. M.Munuswamy @ Dayalan
89. K. Ramesh
90. J. Ramalingam
91. S.Veeramamuni
92. K.Sathiyaseelan
93. T. Kumaraguru
94. R. Balamurugan
95. S.Ilango @ Sengeni
96. R. Ravi
97. D.Muthutraman
98. B.Ponguzhali 99. M. Elumalai
100. T. Baskaran
101. G. Sivagnanavelan
102. D. Vengatassabady
103. B. Vinayagm
104. V.Krishnamoorthy
105. R.Ramaswamy
106. J.Ramkumar
107. K.Venkatachalapathy
108. P.Vaithiyanathan
109. M. Rajasekaran
110. S.Guna
111. V.Murugaswany
112. M.Ganessan
113. M.Ravi
114. S. Lakshmi
115. B.Panchali
116. M.Patthiban
117. S.raju
118. P.Jayakumar 119. M.Pakkiyam
120. A.Vengadesan
121. S.Uma
122. P.Kumaravel
123. R.Muniyammal
124. Y.Seminarayanaswamy @ Mohan
125. V.Padmanaban
126. A.Arul
127. K.Balachandar
128. G.Parasuraman
129. V. ArulNithiran
130. S.Arumugam … Petitioners
-Vs-
1. Union of India, represented by its
Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
2. The Finance Secretary,
Chief Secretariat,
Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
3. The Secretary,
Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs
-cum-Chairman (PAPSCO), Puducherry.
4. The Director (Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs), Puducherry.
5. The Managing Director,
PAPSCO, Puducherry. … Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to disburse arrears of salary due to the petitioners from February, 2018 to till the date along with 18% interest and consequently pay salary on pay day of every month without any default, failing which the respondents may be directed to employee the petitioners in any other department of the Government of Puducherry, with protection of existing service benefits.
In all W.Ps
For Petitioners : Mr.Stalin Abhimanyu
For R1 to R4 : Mr.V.Vasantha Kumar
Additional Government Pleader For R5 : Mr.T.M.Naveen
COMMON ORDER
These writ petitions have been filed for direction directing the respondents to disburse the salary to the petitioners from February, 2018 and terminal benefits with interest.
2. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.
3. The issue involved in these writ petitions are one and the same. Therefore, this Court is inclined to pass a common order.
4. The fifth respondent is a sole nominee of the first respondent to procure and control essential food commodities under Public Distribution Scheme.
5. The petitioners were employees of the fifth respondent and they were

initially appointed as casual labourers to the post of Helper (Multi functional) in the year 1991. Thereafter, their services were regularized with effect from their initial date of appointment. They continuously worked under the fifth respondent and retired from service due to attainment of age of superannuation. However, the fifth respondent is facing financial crisis and was struggling hard to meet out smooth running of the business activities. Therefore, the fifth respondent was not prompt in disbursing the salary and other statutory dues such as ESI, gratuity, leave encashment, outside recoveries were not remitted from March, 2013. Therefore, the employees went on strike. The fifth respondent was closed. Thereafter, it was reopened and paid only three months of arrears of salary. However, they were not paid salary and other retirement benefits from February, 2018. Some of the writ petitioners had retired from service and some of them are in employment without any salary.
6. Considering the same, the respondents are directed to disburse the salary to the petitioners those who are working employees and pay the terminal benefits and arrears of salary for the retired employees with applicable interest, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that the Government of Puducherry shall interfere and direct the fifth respondent to settle all the arrears of salary and terminal benefits of its employees.
7. Accordingly, these writ petitions are allowed. Consequently, connected
Miscellaneous petitions are closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
08.07.2024
Internet: Yes
Index : Yes/No
Neutral Citation : Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking order
mn
G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN. J,
mn
To
1. The Chief Secretary to Government,
Union of India,
Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
2. The Finance Secretary,
Chief Secretariat,
Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
3. The Secretary,
Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs
-cum-Chairman (PAPSCO), Puducherry.
4. The Director (Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs), Puducherry.
5. The Managing Director, PAPSCO, Puducherry.
W.P.Nos.17126, 17135 and 17253 of 2024
08.07.2024