IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 23.02.2026 C O R A M THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.M.P.No.7762 of 2026 S.Thangarajan ... Petitioner Vs

1.The Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchayatraj Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.

2.The Director of Rural Development, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai-600 015.

3.The District Collector, Trichirapalli District, Trichirappalli.

4.The Principal Accountant General (A & E) Tamil Nadu, No.361, Anna Salai, Chennnai-600 018. ... Respondents Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records pertaining to Paragraph 4(b) of G.O.Ms.No.77 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (P.A-4) Department dated 12.07.2013 of the first respondent and quash the same in so far relates to not counting the services rendered by the petitioner in part time Panchayat clerk and Panchayat Assistant along with regular service for the purpose of pension and direct the respondents to count 50% services rendered in the post of Part Time Clerk and Panchayat Assistant from 01.08.1980 till 02.02.1995 along with regular service for the purpose of granting pension and to grant monetary benefits to the petitioner from the date of the G.O.Ms.No.39 Rural Development Department and Panchayat Raj i.e 13.06.2011 and disburse all the arrears within the time frame fixed by this Hon’ble Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.N.K.Ponraj For Respondents : Mr.P.Balathandayutham, Special Govt. Pleader for RR-1 to 3 : Mr.Murali Krishnan for R-4

O R D E R

The present Writ Petition has been filed challenging the G.O.Ms.No.77 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (P.A-4) Department dated 12.07.2013 of the first respondent insofar as Paragraph 4(b) which stipulates that the period of part-time service rendered in the posts of Panchayat Assistant or Panchayat Clerk shall not be taken into account for the purpose of pensionary benefits under Level-1 or Level-2.

2.Mr.P.Balathandayutham, learned Special Government Pleader takes notice on behalf of respondents 1 to 3. Mr.L.Murali Krishnan, learned counsel takes notice on behalf of the 4^th respondent.

3. The petitioner was initially appointed as Part Time Panchayat Clerk in Maradi Village of Uppiliyapuram Panchayat Union with effect from on 01.08.1998. The said post was thereafter upgraded and the petitioner was appointed as Panchayat Assistant from 01.01.1991. Subsequently, he was appointed as Junior Assistant with effect from 03.02.1995 and upon attaining superannuation, the petitioner was retired from service on 31.03.2005.

4. It is the case of the petitioner that, as per G.O.Ms.No.39 Rural Development Department and Panchayat Raj i.e 13.06.2011, pensionary benefits are to be granted by taking into account 50% of part time Panchayat Service. The said G.O was subsequently modified by the G.O.Ms.No.77, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (P.A-4) Department dated 12.07.2013 which stipulates that, the period of part-time service rendered in the posts of Panchayat Assistant or Panchayat Clerk shall not be reckoned for the purpose of pensionary benefits under Level-1 or Level-2. Aggrieved by said modification, the petitioner has come up with the present Writ Petition.

5. Though a larger relief has been sought for in this Writ Petition, at the time of arguments, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner restricted his prayer and submitted that the petitioner may be permitted to make appropriate representation to the respondents seeking to consider 50% of part time service rendered in the post of Part Time Clerk and Panchayat Assistant from 01.08.1980 till 02.02.1995 along with regular service for the purpose of grant of pension and other monetary benefits and that respondents may be directed to consider the same within the time that may be stipulated by this Court.

6. On the above contention, this Court heard the learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the responde