IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 16-03-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE P.T. ASHA AND WMP Nos.10709 and 10711 OF 2026 F.Mercy Vidya W/o.Ravikumar Headmistress, Panchayat Union Middle School, Appiyapalayam, Tiruppur North Block, Tiruppur District.

..Petitioner(s)

Vs

1. The State Of Tamilnadu Rep. By Its Principal Secretary To Government School Education Department, Secretariat Fort St.George Chennai 09

2. The State Of Tamilnadu Rep. By Its Principal Secretary To Government Finance Department, Secretariat Fort St.George Chennai 09 3. The Director Of School Education Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam College Road Chennai 06

4. The Director Of Elementary Education Perasiriyar Anbazhagan Kalvi Valagam College Road Chennai 06

5. The District Educational Officer (Elementary)

Tiruppur District, Tiruppur.

6. The Block Educational Officer Tiruppur North Block, Tiruppur District.

7. The Financial Adviser and Principal Accounts Officer Tamil Nadu School Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Chennai-600 006.

8. The Accountant General / (Aand E)

Office Of The Principal Accountant General, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai-600 018.

..Respondent(s)

Prayer:- Writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned Government letter issued by the 1st respondent in Letter No. 11100/ Tho.Ka.1(1)/2023-1 School Education Department dated 15.12.2023 and to quash the same consequently directing the respondents to continue to pay salary to the petitioner in accordance with fixation of Selection grade scale of pay granted for the post of Primary School Headmaster granted prior to 01.06.2009 with corresponding fixation of pay in the post of Middle School Headmaster as well as to sanction Selection Grade in the post of Middle School Headmaster.

For Petitioner(s): Mr.P.Murali For Respondent(s): Ms.Mythrae Chandru, Special Government Pleader-R1 to 7 Mr.ANR Jayaprathap Standing Counsel - R8

Order

This writ petition has been filed for the following relief:

“To issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus to call for the records relating to the impugned Government letter issued by the 1^strespondent in Letter No. 11100/ Tho.Ka.1(1)/2023-1 School Education Department dated 15.12.2023 and to quash the same consequently directing the respondents to continue to pay salary to the petitioner in accordance with fixation of Selection grade scale of pay granted for the post of Primary School Headmaster granted prior to 01.06.2009 with corresponding fixation of pay in the post of Middle School Headmaster as well as to sanction Selection Grade in the post of Middle School Headmaster.”

2. Heard the learned counsels on both sides and perused the materials available on record.

3. The issue involved in the present writ petition was earlier considered in a batch of writ petitions in W.P.No.12275 of 2024 dated 02.03.2026, wherein a similar relief was claimed. The learned Judge after hearing the arguments of both sides and discussing the relevant Rules and Government Orders in detail, had ultimately disposed of the writ petitions with directions. These directions are extracted herein below:

85. In the result, all the writ petitions are disposed of with the following directions:~

i) The impugned order directing the fixation of the selection grade/special grade scale of pay at the first promotional level and 2nd promotional level is set aside to the extent that there shall be no recovery of amount, which has already been paid, from the petitioners ;

ii) Insofar as the petitioners, who have retired from service is concerned, no amount shall be recovered on the basis of the impugned order from the retiral benefits/pensionary benefits of the petitioners with regard to the amount already paid;

iii) Insofar as the petitioners, who are still in service, no amount shall be recovered on the basis of the impugned order from the salary of the petitioners with regard to the amount al