IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD THE HON’BLE SMT. JUSTICE JUVVADI SRIDEVI WRIT PETITION No.22284 of 2016

11 MARCH, 2026 Between:

Murugam Sujatha and another … Petitioners AND The Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited, rep. by the Chairman and Managing Director, Warangal, Telangana State and seven others …Respondents : O R D E R :

This writ petition is filed seeking the following relief:

“to issue a Writ or Order more in the nature of Mandamus in declaring the action of the official respondents in not settling and paying the pensionary benefits to the 1^st petitioner and compassionate appointment to the 2^nd petitioner in spite of the death of the father on 08.01.2015 as illegal, arbitrary, unjust and consequentially direct the official respondents to provide compassionate appointment to the 2^nd petitioner and pensionary benefits to the 1^st petitioner on account of death of Murugam Umapathy and pass such other orders or order…”

2. Heard Mr. S.Sridhar, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. A.Chandra Shaker, learned Standing Counsel for NPDCL appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 5 and Mr. M.Madhava Reddy, learned counsel for respondent Nos.6 to 8. Perused the record.

3. Brief facts of the case:

3.1. Petitioner No.1 is the legally wedded wife of the deceased Murugam Umapathy and petitioner No.2 is their son. The deceased was working as a Line Inspector and died on 18.01.2015 in a road accident. After his demise, while the petitioners were awaiting sanction of pensionary benefits and consideration of petitioner No.2’s compassionate appointment, they came to know that respondent No.6 was falsely claiming to be the second wife of the deceased and that respondent Nos.7 and 8 are their children and a family member certificate was also issued in their favour.

3.2. Immediately, the petitioners submitted a representation to the District Tahsildar, Executive Magistrate, seeking enquiry into the family member certificate issued in favour of respondent Nos.6 to 8. Upon enquiry, as the said certificate was found to be false and not genuine, it was accordingly cancelled by proceedings, dated

03.03.2016.

3.3. In view of the above, petitioner No.1 alone is entitled to the pensionary benefits of the deceased and petitioner No.2 is entitled to be considered for compassionate appointment. However, the respondent-authorities have not extended the said benefits so far, citing the pendency of O.S.No.302 of 2015 filed by respondent Nos.6 to 8 seeking to declare them as legal heirs of the deceased.

Hence, the present writ petition.

4. Submissions of learned counsel for the petitioners: 4.1. Respondent No.6 never married the deceased and even in her service records, the name of the deceased is not entered as her husband. Earlier, respondent No.6 was granted compassionate appointment upon the death of her first husband, who died while in service and being a Government employee, she could not have contracted a second marriage without obtaining prior permission from the competent authority. Respondent No.6 has retired from service and is receiving pensionary benefits.

4.2. The civil suit vide O.S.No.302 of 2015 filed by respondent Nos.6 to 8 was partly decreed, wherein, respondent Nos.7 and 8 were declared as the legal heirs of the deceased, however, the marriage between the deceased and respondent No.6 was declared as null and void. In view of the same, it is clearly established that respondent No.6 is not the legally wedded wife and widow of the deceased and therefore she is not entitled to any pensionary benefits arising out of the death of the deceased. Accordingly, learned counsel prayed this Court to direct the respondent-

authorities to settle the pensionary benefits in favour of petitioner No.1 and to provide compassionate appointment to petitioner No.2.

5. Submissions of learned counsel for respondent Nos.6 to 8:

5.1. The deceased married respondent No.6 on 10.02.1989, after entering into an agreement with petitioner