Village Assistants regularised under G.O. No.625 entitled to count entire service for pensionary benefits.

COMMON ORDER

Heard Mr.S.Visvalingam, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr.S.Shaji Bino, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents.

2. With the consent of both sides, the Writ Petitions are disposed of at the admission stage itself.

3. It is the case of the petitioners that they were initially appointed as Thalayari and served as such from 21.10.1988 to 31.05.1995 and 09.12.1985 to 31.05.1995 respectively. Thereafter, they were absorbed in the regular time scale of pay as Village Assistant with effect from 01.06.1995 in terms of G.O.(Perm) No.625, Revenue Department, dated 06.07.1995 and continued as such till 16.10.2018 and 17.10.2018 respectively. Thereafter, the petitioners were promoted as Village Administrative Officer through proceedings dated 16.10.2018 and 17.10.2018 respectively. Subsequently, the petitioners attained the age of superannuation and retired from service on 30.11.2018 and 31.03.2019 respectively. However, the pension was fixed without taking into consideration the service rendered by the petitioners as Village Assistant from 01.06.1995 to 16.10.2018 and 01.06.1995 to 17.102018. Hence, the petitioners claim to have submitted representations requesting revision of their pension duly taking into consideration the service rendered by them as Village Assistant.

4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the very same issue of counting the service rendered as Village Assistant for the purpose of pensionary benefits had fallen for consideration before the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.(MD) No.1200 of 2025 etc. [The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Revenue and Disaster Management Department and others Vs. K. Marimuthu and others]. The Division Bench of this Court, by an order dated 03.02.2026, held that the Village Assistants whose services were regularised in terms of G.O.(Perm) No. 625, Revenue Department, dated 06.07.1995 are entitled to count their entire service as Village Assistant for the purpose of pensionary benefits.

5. The learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents fairly submits that the claim made by the petitioners is covered by the order of the Division Bench of this Court relied upon by the learned counsel for the petitioners and further submits that the representations submitted by the petitioners would be considered by the respondents in accordance with law and that an appropriate revised proposals would be submitted.

6. In the light of the above, the Writ Petitions are disposed of directing the third respondent to submit revised pension proposals duly taking into consideration the services rendered by the petitioners as Village Assistant to the first respondent, based on the petitioners' representations dated 03.03.2026, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.