ORDER

The petitioner is a former judge of the Madras High Court. He was appointed on 25-01-1979 and superannuated on 07-12-1981. In the meanwhile, by a notification dated 29-07-1981, he was appointed as Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the incidents which took place in Coimbatore Town on 23-07-1981 arising from attacks on the office premises of two Tamil newspapers Dinakaran and Malai Murasu . In the aforementioned notification dated 29-07-1981 it was stated:

"I am directed to say that the President requests Shri Justice P. Venugopal, Judge, Madras High Court to function as the Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 in respect of the incidents that took place in Coimbatore Town in Tamil Nadu on 23rd July, 1981.

2. The time spent by Shri Justice P. Venugopal in the performance of the said functions will count as "Actual Service" within the meaning of paragraph 11(b)(i) of Part "D" of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of India read with section 2(1)(c)(i) of the High Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Act, 1954. Shri Justice Venugopal will not be entitled to any extra remuneration for the above work except travelling allowances and daily allowan