IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 29.06.2009 Coram: THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE R.SUDHAKAR Writ Petition Nos.6492, 18628, 24065, 37815, 43505, 47874 and 49308 of 2006; 1873, 8928, 9092, 10315, 14651, 19646, 20501, 23202, 24324, 24926 and 29125 of 2007 and 19067 of 2008 and M.P.No.2 of 2006 in W.P.No.18628 of 2006, M.P.No.2 of 2006 in W.P.No.43505 of 2006, M.P.No.1 of 2007 in W.P.No.20501 of 2007, M.P.No.1 of 2007 in W.P.No.23202 of 2007, M.P.No.1 of 2007 in W.P.No.24324 of 2007 and M.P.No.1 of 2008 in W.P.No.18628 of 2006, W.P.NO.6492 OF 2006: 1.N.S.SUBRAHMANYAN 2.S.SURIAGHANDI 3.K.S.SUBRAMANIAN 4.K.MOHAMAD GANI 5.T.K.BALAKRISHNAN 6.SETHU RAMASAMY 7.K.LAKSHMANAN 8.A.PUSHPAM 9.M.S.VENKATESAN 10.V.SWAMINATHAN 11.S.RABIYALIC 12.N.NAGARAJAN 13.J.GEORGE JOSHEP 14.G.KALIAPPAN 15.S.NAGARATHINAM 16.T.N.THANGAVELU 17.A.KUMARASAMY 18.P.PANDIYAN 19.C.K.RANGA RAO 20.D.H.THIAGARAJ 21.S.KRISHNAMOORTHY 22.S.P.SADAYAPPAN 23.G.EBENEZER 24.K.S.SUBRAMANIAN 25.K.S.RAMACHANDRAN 26.R.PADMANABHAN 27.C.MATHURAVALLI 28.V.ATHIMOOLAM https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 29.R.THIRUMALAI NAMBI 30.R.VARADARAJAN 31.A.NARAYANASWAMY ... PETITIONERS IN WP.6492/06 W.P.No.18628/06: 1.S.NATARAJAN 2 V.RAJARAM 3 S.MAHALINGAM 4 V.S.KALIAPPAN 5 T.M.MUTHUKARUPPAN 6 M.MANICKAM 7 R.THILLAINAYAGAM 8 N.MURUGESAN 9 S.NAGAMUTHU 10 M.JAYARMAN 11 B.KRISHNAMURTHI 12 P.V.SUBRAMANIAN 13 S.T.THIRUMALAISWAMI .. PETITIONERS IN W.P.NO.18628/2006 W.P.No.24065 /2006: 1 T. SUBRAMANIAM 2 A. THIAGARAJAN 3 P. RAMALAKSHMI 4 M. SUBBARAYAN 5 R. GOVINDARAJULU 6 S. SAROJA 7 G. KALIYAPPAN 8 S. VEERA RAGHAVAN 9 S. RAMACHANDRAN 10 R. THIRUVENGADASAMI 11 T.K.BALASUBRAMANIAN 12 V.S.RAGHAVAN 13 S.M.ISSAC 14 T.GOMATHI 15 P.KUMARAGURUNATHAN 16 R.SANKARANARAYANAN 17 P.S.RAMANATHAN 18 DR.S.G.NATARAJAN 19 P.GANAPATHY 20 A.KUNJITHAPATHAM 21 M.PALANISAMY 22 R.SRIRANGATHAMMAL 23 A.SREENIVASAN 24 N.S.RENGASWAMY 25 V.MURUGAN 26 B.GOVINDARAJAN 27 M.A.PERUMAL 28 M.SIVAPRAKASAM https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 29 T.PACKIASAMY 30 S.SIVANANDA 31 D.S.BINDUMADHAVA RAO 32 S.A.RAMACHANDRAN 33 S.A.VENKATESAN 34 R.VENKATARAMAN 35 K.RANGANATHAN 36 S.KANAGASABAPATHI. 37 C.SUBBIAH 38 G.SUSEELA 39 T.JOHN DEVASIRVATHAM 40 L.SREERAMAN 41 R.SUNDARAM 42 R.RAMADAS 43 A.NAMBIKAI 44 K.V.VENKATRA RATHNAM 45 K.V.VENKATA RATHNAM 46 V.CHELLIAH 47 C.SIVASUBRAMANIAN 48 V.KRISHNAMURTI 49 T.S.SIVARAMAN 50 P.RAGHAVACHARI 51 A.NARAYANAN 52 J.SETHURAMAN 53 P.ARUNACHALAM 54 J.SUBRAMANIAN 55 N.P.NAMBUDIRI 56 S.VENUGOPALAN 57 N.GOVINDARAJAN 58 S.RATHNASAPABATHY 59 V.KRISHNASAMY VARIYAR. 60 M.S.KAMALAM 61 C.RAJIA BEGAM 62 S.VEERABADRAN 63 K.R.RAJARAMAN 64 T.C.NATARAJAN 65 JOSEPH A VICTOR 66 V.KUNJUKRISHNANTHAMBY 67 A.N.THIRUMALAIAPPAN 68 T.V.THIRUVENGADAM 69 P.JAYAMMAL 70 S.P.PALANIVELAUTHAM 71 P.A.GURUSAMY 72 MAHMOODA BEGAM 73 DR.RANI E.BHARATHAN 74 G.E.EBENEZER 75 K.A.JALALAKSHMI 76 A.S.PARIPURNAM 77 M.MEENAKSHI 78 K.LAKSHMI https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 79 K.BALAKRISHNAN 80 A.SATHIANATHAN 81 T.R.PARTHASARATHY 82 P. SIVAPRAKASAM 83 A. MARIAMMAL 84 S. RAJAMMAL @ MEENAKSHMI 85 S. SARASVATHY 86 I. RAJAMMAL 87 M. SHANMUGAM 88 V. NATESAN 89 K. PARAMASIVAM 90 S. MANGALAM 91 J. SAVITHRI 92 V.P. VENKATARAMANI 93 P.S. RAMAMOORTHY 94 S. KRISNHSAMY 95 SYBIL JOSEPH 96 L. SENGAMALAM 97 K. GHULAM MOHIDEEN 98 K. SARASWATHI 99 A. AROKIADOSS 100 B.T. SREENIVASAMOORTHY 101 V. SAVITHRI 102 V.B. SUBRAMANIAM 103 D.P. RADHAKRISHNAN 104 V. SUBBULAKSHMI 105 M. GOVINDAMMAL 106 A. RAMAMURTHY 107 A.S.P. DHARMARAJ ...PETITIONERS IN W.P.24065/06 W.P.NO.37815 /2006: 1 S.NATARAJAN 2 C.VENUGOPAL 3 D.ANNAMARIAL 4 G VENKATARAMAN 5 S.MADHAVA RAO 6 S.JAGANNATHAN 7 S.RAJAGOPAL 8 S.KUNCHITAPATHAM 9 S.BALASUNDARAM 10 T.KALYANI 11 R.THIAGARAJAN 12 C.RUKMANI 13 M.R.SRINIVASAN 14 A.A.M.MOHAMED ALI 15.P.S.SANJEEVI 16.N.S.THIRUVENGADASAMY 17.S.GOKARNESAN 18.M.K.ANNAMALAI https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 19.B.VISWANATHAN 20.M.E.KESAVAN 21.M.MARGABANDU 22.A.ANNAMALAI 23.N.KUPPUSAMI PILLAI 24.VASANTHA 25.C.CHOCKALINGAM 26.V.SUSEELA BAI 27.K.RAJARAM 28.C.SWARNAVELU 29.K.SUBRAMANIYAPILLAI 30.N.M.MOHAMED ABUBACKER 31.A.MASILAMANI 32.K.PURUSHOTHAMAN 33.E.S.SREENIVASAN 34.P.SUBRAMANIAN 35.H.PIRAMUAMMAL 36.GRACE BAGYANATHAN 37.D.ANNAMMAL 38.N.MARIMUTHU 39.V.RAJAGOPALAN 40.S.J.DEVAKIRUBAI 41.K.K.MANI 42.L.P.KRISHNASAMY 43.P.ANNAPATTU 44.M.GANESAN 45.AHYIA MANOHARA 46.M.KALYANASUNDARAM 47.R.VISALAKSHI 48.T.NAVAMANI RATHINAM 49.R.GABRIEL 50.S.MARIAPUSHPAM 51.R.RATHINAM 52.D.IRENE 53.M.SIVAPRAKASAM 54.M.ANTONISAMI 55.SANTHANAMARY 56.J.PONNAMMMAL 57.M.NATESAN 58.JESSIE NAVAMANI 59.A.SIVAPAKKIAM 60.P.KARUPPAN 61.T.S.SENGODAN 62.K.I.MUSTHAFA 63.K.SUNDARAM 64.D.W.HERBERT 65.H.DAMODARAN 66.K.RAJAMBAL 67.K.RAMAMOORTHI 68.N.LALITHA https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 69.T.SELVARAJ 70.R.SOMALINGAM ...PETITIONERS IN W.P.NO.37815/06 W.P.NO.43505/2006: 1.E.NAGARAJAN 2.JANAKI MOSES 3.A.PICHAIPILLAI 4.M.ABDUL RAHIM 5.M.KARUKPPIAH 6.D.KANDASAMY 7.V.ABDUL SAMAD 8.T.M.BABU 9.R.LAKSHMI 10.RAMALINGAM 11.S.PERUMAL 12.S.MUTHAMMAL 13.K.A.NEELAKANTAN 14.K.RAJAMMAL 15.S.MEENAKSHI 16.R.RAJASEKARAN 17.GODHAVARI 18.M.SINGARAYAN 19.SIVAPAKYAM 20.R.RADHALAKSHMI 21.K.A.VENKATESAN 22.T.CHINNAPILLAI 23.K.RENGAMMAL 24.V.SUBRAMANIAN 25.S.PATHIRAKALI 26.A.R.LAKSHMIAMMAL 27.V.PITCHAI 28.P.KAMALAM 29.A.ARULANANDAM 30.A.AGNES 31.S.RADHA BAI. 32.E.W.MUHUSAMY 33.RUBAVATHI NORTON 34.R.VENKATESAN 35.R.NARAYANI 36.K.R.SUBBULAKSHMI 37.T.ARUMUGAM 38.S.J.ARUMAIRAJ 39.K.JEGATHAMBAL 40.N.KRISHNAMURTHY 41.K.VENKATARAMAN 42.S.NAGARATHINAM 43.S.SARASWATHI 44.N.KANAGASABAI 45.V.PREMA https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 46.S.JOHN NELSON 47.A.SABAPATHY 48.V.JANAKI 49.R.GANAPATHY 50.GOMATHIAMMAL 51.B.LOGAMBAL 52.S.LAKSHMI 53.L.VIJAYALAKSHMI 54.E.NARASIMHAN 55.T.C.PARTHASARATHY. ...PETITIONERS IN W.P.NO.43505/06 W.P.No.47874/06: 1.VIJAYAKUMAR 2.NARAYANAMOORTHY 3.M.ETHIRAJAN 4.R.VENKATARAMANA RAO 5.SARASWATHI ...PETITIONERS IN W.P.NO.47874/2006 W.P.NO.49308/06: 1.V.RUKUMANI 2.A.JAYALAKSHMI 3.B.ALAMELUAMMAL 4.A.LALITHA 5.A.LAKSHMI 6.M.K.VENUGOPALAN 7.S.MAYAKOOTHAN ...PETITIONERS IN W.P.NO.49308/06 W.P.NO.1873/07: 1.M.ARUNAGIRI 2.P.K.RAJARAM 3.K.RAMAKRISHNAN 4.S.J.NAGARAJAN 5.S.JAYALAKSHMI ...PETITIONERS IN W.P.NO.1873/07 W.P.NO 8928/2007: 1.S.MANOHARAN . 2.D.I.MANUBAI 3.S.MANOHARAN 4.CHENGAMMAL 5.N.VISWANATHAN 6.R.P.GOPALAKRISHNAN 7.R.T.KALYANASUNDARAM 8.S.ALEXANDER JONES 9.V.THILLAINAYAGAM 10.S.SUBRAMANIAN 11.M.S.SALIS https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 12.V.L.RAMAMURTHY 13.V.SEETHALAKSHMI 14.A.JANAKIAMMAL 15.R.SAROJA 16.V.SETHUBAI 17.M.SUSAIRATHINAM 18.M.RAMASAMY 19.N.JAYARAMAN 20.G.VENUGOPAL 21.A.ALAGAMMAL 22.L.LALITHA 23.R.GNANAM 24.T.THANAMANI 25.T.THANAMANI 26.R.AMALORPAVAM 27.R.KANICKKAM 28.S.KUPPURETHINAM 29.M.KATHAEE 30.G.PATTAMMAL 31.R.ALOSANAIMARY 32.APPAVOOPILLAI 33.S.SRINIVASACHARI ...PETITITONER IN W.P.NO.8928/07 W.P.NO.9092/2007 1.R.ADAIKALAMARY 2.R.GOVINDASAMY 3.P.JAYARAMAN 4.C.MARIMUTHU 5.K.SINGARAVELU 6.S.THANGAVELU 7.M.VEERAMUTHU 8.P.MARIMUTHU 9.S.RUKMANI 10.A.VISWANATHAN 11.V.VEDAMBAL 12.A.SAVARIMUTHU 13.P.C.RAJARETHINAM 14.J.SOUNDARARAJAN 15.P.DHARMASAMVARTHINI 16.R.VAIRAM 17.V.JAYALAKSHMI 18.G.ANANDAVALLI 19.R.ANJAMMAL 20.N.BAGYALAKSHMI 21.B.GIBURIYA 22.K.GNANASUNDARI 23.C.JAYALAKSHMI 24.D.JAGATHAM 25 A.JAYASEELAMARY https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 26 V.KANMANI 27 A.KOHILAMBAL 28 N.KUPPUSAMY 29 R.MEENAKSHI 30 S.NEELAVATHI 31 J.PANKAJAM 32 L.PERIYANAYAKI 33 N.SARADHAMBAL 34 S.SAKUNTHALA 35 V.SARADHAM 36 R.SUNDARAMBAL 37 V.THAVASIMANI 38 A.UMMALBAJARIYA 39 P.JAYA 40 S.DAVAMANI 41 R.LAKSHMI 42 D.SEETHALAKSHMI 43 S.VALLI 44 S.KAMACHIAMMAL 45 V.NAGAMMAL 46 D.PAPPATHI 47 P.SARADA 48 M.SARADAMBAL 49 M.SOUNDARAVALLI 50 G.SUNDARI 51 R.VISALAKSHI 52 R.CHINNAPILLAI 53 FRANCIS MARY 54 G.GOWRI 55 A.GNANAM 56 R.NAVANEETHAMMAL 57 P.MUTHULAKSHMI 58 T.SAROJA 59 V.VEDAMBAL 60 S.JOTHI 61 K.SAVITHIRI 62 V.VALARMATHI 63 T.CHANDER 64 V.RAVI 65 V.SANTHANALAKSHMI 66 K.S.SESHADRI 67 M.THIAGARAJAN .. PETITIONERS IN WP.9092/07 WP. 10315/07: 1 P.VAIDYALINGAM 2 J.VIJAYARAGHAVA MUDALIAR 3 V.RAMACHANDRAN 4 PERUNDEVI 5 ELLAMMAL https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 6 VALLIAMMAL 7 PAVUNAMBAL 8 KUNAPOOSHANAM 9 KAMATCHI 10 KAMALA 11 CHELLAMMAL 12 AMIRTHAMMAL .. PETITIONERS IN WP.10315/07 WP.14651/07: 1 S. SHANMUGASUNDARAM 2 KORATHI 3 M. MADHAVAN SETHI 4 R. REVATHY 5 K. RATHINAMANI 6 S. PATTAMMAL 7 N. GANAPATHIAMMAL 8 M. AVUDAIAMMAL 9 BABUJI 10 SARASWATHYAMMAL .. PETITIONERS IN WP.14651/07 WP.19646/07: 1 V.RAGHAVAN 2 T.DHANALAKSHMI 3 T.RAMAJAYAM 4 M.UTCHINIMAHALI 5 R.GOVINDA VINAYAGAM 6 S.GEETHA .. PETITIONERS IN WP.19646/07 WP.20501/07: 1 DR.C.R.SUNDARARAJAN 2 P.V.GOPALAKRISHNAN 3 S.KAJALAKSHMI 4 V.KRISHNAMOORTHY 5 C.SUNDERSINGH 6 M.PONNAMMAL 7 P.SEETHALAKSHMI 8 N.CHELLAMMAL 9 C.PONNUTHAI 10 C.SUNDERSINGH .. PETITIONERS IN WP.20501/07 WP.23202/07: 1 V.K.SANTHANAGOPALAN 2 K.R.RADHAMMA 3 T.SELVANAYAGI .. PETITIONERS IN WP.23202/07 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ WP.24324/07: 1 G. MAYANDI 2 A. AMALRAJ 3 S. SHANMUGAM 4 T. CHELLAMMAL 5 V. DEVAKI 6 V. ANUSIYA 7 K. SAROJA 8 D AMMAPONNU 9 S LAKSHMI 10 V. PATTAMMAL 11 M DORAI RAJARAMAN .. PETITIONERS IN WP.24324/07 WP.24926/07: 1 R.CHANDRASEKARAN 2 V.MUTUGAIYAN 3 N.VARATHARAJAN 4 D.VELAYUTHAM 5 S.VAITHILINGAM 6 P.GANAPATHY 7 T.RAJALAKSHMI .. PETITIONERS IN WP.24926/07 WP.29125/07: 1 K.S. PADMAVATHY 2 S. PATTAMMAL 3 K. VISALAKSHI 4 A. RAJAGOPAL 5 A. ABDUL MAJEETH 6 T.G. SRIRAMULU 7 R. VENKATARAMAN .. PETITIONERS IN WP.29125/07 WP.19067/08: 1 S.RAMASAMY 2 K.BHUVARAGASAMY 3 C.THANGAVEL PADAYACHI 4 D.SAMUEL SOMASUNDARAM 5 SELLAPANGI 6 C.GOVINDASAMY 7 RANJITHAM 8 SAROJA 9 MANONMANI 10 V.S.KOTHANDAPANI 11 L.SWAMI DOSS 12 G.VENUGOPALAN .. PETITIONERS IN WP.19067/08 Vs. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ The State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its Secretary to Government, Finance (Pension) Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009. ... Respondent in all WPs. The Examiner, Local Fund Accounts Kuralagam, Chennai .. R2 in WP.14651/07 Writ Petition Nos.6492, 24065, 37815, 43505, 47874 and 49308 of 2006; 1873, 8928, 9092, 10315, 19646, 20501, 23202, 24324 and 29125 of 2007 and 19067 of 2008 are filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records, in pursuant to the impugned G.O.Ms.No.562 Finance (Pay Cell) Department dated 10.6.1985 and quash the same, so far as it fixes the different percentage of increase on the basic pension as on 30.09.84 and consequently direct the respondent to increase the basic pension at the rate of 30% to all the pensioners/family pensioners who retired on or before 30.9.84, refix their pension and pay the arrears within a stipulated period. Writ Petition No.14651 of 2007 is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records, in pursuant to the impugned G.O.Ms.No.562 Finance (Pay Cell) Department dated 10.6.1985 of the first respondent and quash the same, so far as it fixes different percentage of increase on the basic pension as on 30.09.84 and consequently direct the respondent to increase the basic pension at the rate of 30% to all the pensioners/family pensioners who retired on or before 30.9.84, refix their pension and pay the arrears within a stipulated period. Writ Petition Nos.18628 of 2006 and 24926 of 2007 are filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of mandamus, directing the respondent to refix the original pension of all the pensioners as per the proviso clause of para 5(i) of G.O.Ms.No.562 Finance (Pay Cell) Department dated 10.6.1985 as if the pensioners had retired on 30.9.84 and consequently pay the arrears of pension and other consequent pensionary benefits. For Petitioners : Mr.S.M.Subramanian For Respondent : Mr.T.Seenivasan, Additional Government Pleader. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ O R D E R This writ petition Nos.6492, 24065, 37815, 43505, 47874 and 49308 of 2006; 1873, 8928, 9092, 10315, 19646, 20501, 23202, 24324 and 29125 of 2007 and 190167 of 2008 are filed praying to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records, relating to the G.O.Ms.No.562 Finance (Pay Cell) Department dated 10.6.1985 and quash the same, so far as it fixes different percentage of increase on the basic pension as on 30.09.84 and consequently direct the respondent to increase the basic pension at the rate of 30% to all the pensioners/family pensioners who retired on or before 30.9.84, refix their pension and pay the arrears within a stipulated period. 2. Writ Petition No.14651 of 2007 is filed praying to issue a writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records, in pursuant to the impugned G.O.Ms.No.562 Finance (Pay Cell) Department dated 10.6.1985 of the first respondent and quash the same, so far as it fixes different percentage of increase on the basic pension as on 30.09.84 and consequently direct the respondent to increase the basic pension at the rate of 30% to all the pensioners/family pensioners who retired on or before 30.9.84, refix their pension and pay the arrears within a stipulated period. 3. Writ Petition Nos.18628 of 2006 and 24926 of 2007 are filed praying to issue a writ of mandamus, directing the respondent to refix the original pension of all the pensioners as per the proviso clause of para 5(i) of G.O.Ms.No.562 Finance (Pay Cell) Department dated 10.6.1985 as if the pensioners had retired on 30.9.84 and consequently pay the arrears of pension and other consequent pensionary benefits. 4. All the above writ petitions have been filed seeking same relief, and therefore, are taken together and disposed of by this common order. 5. The brief facts for disposal of the cases are as follows:- All the petitioners are State Government employees. Petitioners in all the above cases are either pensioners or family pensioners. The claim in W.P.No.6492 of 2006 relates to persons who retired from 1.6.1960 to 30.9.1984. Based on the Fourth Pay Commission in G.O.Ms.No.562 Finance (Pay Cell) Department dated 10.6.1985, the pension was extended to the petitioners on different percentages in the following manner:- "For pensioners who retired before 1.6.1960 30 per cent increase For petitioners who retired between 1960-70 15 per cent increase For pensioners who retired between 1970-78 10 per cent increase For pensioners who retired after 1978 7 per cent increase" https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ According to the said G.O., the petitioners, have received the benefits. 6. Thereafter, Fifth Pay Commission came into effect from 1.6.1988. Consequently, G.O.Ms.No.810 Finance (P.C.) dated 9.8.1989 was issued on the slab system in the case of earlier G.O. (i.e.) 562. In G.O.Ms.No.810 Finance (P.C.) dated 9.8.1989 different slabs were adopted, and it is as follows:- Total of Pension/f amily pension plus D.A. at 608 points To those retired between To those retired prior to 1.6.1960 1.6.60 and 1.10.70 2.10.70 and 31.3.78 1.4.78 and 30.9.84 1.10.84 and 30.9.87 Upto Rs.500 60 per cent 50 per cent 40 per cent 35 per cent 20 per cent Above Rs.500/- 50% (subject to a minimum of Rs.300/-) 40% (subject to a minimum of Rs.250/- 30% (subject to a minimum of Rs.200) 25% (subject to a minimum of Rs.175) 15% (subject to a minimum of Rs.100) This G.O.Ms.No.810 dated 9.8.1989 was challenged by a group of pensioners stating that it was arbitrary and discriminatory. The matter went upto the Supreme Court and finally ended in favour of the pensioners. In view of the final decision of the Apex Court, the Government passed G.O.Ms.271 Finance (Pension) dated 15.6.1998 granting benefit of pension at the rate of 60% increase to all pensioners of that Association, who were before the court. 7. Subsequently, G.O.Ms.579 Finance (Pension) Department dated 15.9.2006 was passed by the Government based on a direction of this court to extend the benefit of G.O.Ms.No.271 dated 15.6.1998 to all eligible pensioners with effect from 1.6.1960 to 31.5.1988. In view of the decision of the Government to extend the benefit of G.O.Ms.No.271 dated 15.6.1998 to all State pensioners under G.O.Ms.No.579 Finance (Pension) Department dated 15.9.2006, the pensioners/petitioners in the present cases filed the writ petition challenging the impugned G.O.Ms.No.562, dated 10.6.1985 passed consequent to the Fourth Pay Commission, on the fond hope that the method adopted by the State Government in granting benefit under G.O.Ms.No.271 will be extended to the pensioners who are getting pension according to the Fourth Pay Commission also. Petitioners based on the order of the Supreme Court and subsequent G.O., passed by https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ the Government, viz., G.O.Ms.No.271 dated 15.6.1998 and G.O.Ms.No.579 dated 15.9.2006 are before this court seeking to set aside the impugned G.O., which fixes different percentage of increase in the pension or family pension, stating that it is arbitrary and discriminatory. They also rely upon the decision of this court, upheld by the Apex Court which led to the setting aside the G.O.Ms.No.810 Finance (Pension) Department dated 9.8.1989. In effect, the petitioners in all these cases implored upon the court to apply the same principle and seek for parity in the pension or family pension on the same basis of G.O.Ms.No.271 dated 15.6.2008 and G.O.Ms.No.579 dated 15.9.2006. 8. Mr.T.Seenivasan, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondent at the outset pointed out that the petitioners have already received the pension consequent to the Fourth Pay Commission and the G.O. issued. They have not challenged the impugned G.O., which is based on the Fourth Pay Commission. They have accepted the same. Subsequently, the Fifth Pay Commission came to effect from 1.6.1988 and only thereafter G.O.Ms.No.810 dated 9.8.1989 was passed. At this stage only there is a challenge by a group of pensioners and subsequently, the benefit was granted to all State Pensioners. As far as present cases are concerned, it is the plea of the respondent that the writ petitions challenging G.O.Ms.No.562 dated 10.6.1985 at this point of time should not be entertained only on the ground of delay and latches and the petitioners have not approached this court earlier and they had no grievance at that point of time. He referred to Para 13 of the counter-affidavit and it is set out hereunder:- "13. With reference to averment made in para 19 to 22 of the affidavit, it is submitted that the petitioners have approached this court after lapse of more than 20 years for quashing the G.O.Ms.No.562, Finance (PC) Department, dated 10.6.95 which was issued in 1985 based on the recommendation of the Fourth Pay Commission. Subsequently Fifth and Sixth Pay Commission orders have been issued and at present pay revision committee has been constituted based on the recommendation of the Central Pay Commission. Further it may be pointed out that the petitioners are also benefited from the revised orders issued in G.O.Ms.No.579, Finance (Pen) Department, dated 15.9.2006 consequent on the orders of this Hon'ble Court extended the benefits ordered in G.O.271, Finance Department, 15.6.98 with effect from 1.6.88 onwards. If the petitioner's petition has been entertained it will have the consequent repercussion for the subsequent pay commission orders issued by the Government which will affect https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ the entire system and lead to heavy financial commitment to Government." (emphasis supplied) 9. The anomaly in G.O.Ms.No.810 dated 9.8.1989 fixing the different percentage of increase in the pension or family pension was set aside by this court and upheld by the Apex Court. Government corrected it in G.O.Ms.No.271 dated 15.6.1998 and extended the benefit to all State Pensioners by G.O.Ms.No.579 dated 15.9.2006. Further, only after passing of G.O.Ms.No.579 dated 15.9.2006, the present writ petitions have been filed in the year 2006. As seen from the counter- affidavit, the relevant portion, which has been extracted as above, the Fifth Pay Commission has come into effect in the meanwhile. It is stated that the Sixth Pay Commission orders have been issued. Petitioners have accepted the pension/family pension as per the modified G.O., and have received the same. Hence, the petitioners are not entitled to any relief after lapse of such a long period of time. Assuming without admitting the plea as tenable the reworking of the pensioner/family pensioner will create chaos in the department and will be the cause of constant litigation. 10. In so far as the G.O., which is under challenge in the present writ petitions, as pointed out by the learned Additional Government Pleader, it is too late to call upon the Government to reset the pension/family pension in case of the individuals after such a long period of time. Petitioners no doubt may plead that they have a prima facie case on the slab system which has been adopted in G.O.Ms.No.562 dated 10.6.1985. That anomaly should have been questioned at least along with G.O.Ms.No.810 dated 9.8.1989, which was not done. They allowed the issue to pass and received the pension. The Government, in the meanwhile, modified and extended the pension to all State Pensioners under G.O.Ms.No.579 dated 15.9.2006, based on court's decision and the modified amount has been received by all pensioners. The present writ petitions challenging the impugned G.O., after such a long period of time cannot be entertained. This court is not inclined at this point of time to interfere and set aside the impugned G.O., as in the earlier case, since the petitioners in these cases accepted the impugned G.O., and have been receiving the pension and family pension. Further, based on the subsequent Pay Commission, amended G.O. has been issued revising the pensionary benefit, which has been accepted by all pensioners. This court is of the view that the petitioners are not entitled to any relief as prayed for primarily on the ground of delay or latches, which is a relevant factor for this court before granting any relief to the petitioners. 11. At this juncture, the learned counsel for the petitioners pleaded that after the Fifth Pay Commission and consequent to the final decision of the Apex Court, the Government thought it fit to extend the benefit of pension and family pension to all State https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ Government Pensioners in G.O.Ms.No.579 dated 15.9.2006. Therefore, if there is no difficulty on the part of the State Government, it can re-look into the petitioners' grievance, in view of the anomaly pointed out. This plea appears to be reasonable. However, no relief can be given by this court for the reasons stated earlier. The G.O., does not require to be set aside at this point of time. It is open to the petitioners to make a representation to the Government to extend the benefit to the petitioners as in the case of G.O.Ms.No.579 dated 15.9.2006. The Government is at liberty to re-look into the issue and grant any benefits if the Government find that the claim of the petitioners is justified and feasible at this point of time. It is made clear that the Government is entitled to decide the issue on its own merits without being influenced by any of the observation of this court. 12. In the result, the relief of certiorarified mandamus or mandamus as sought for by the petitioners is rejected. However, the petitioners are entitled to make a representation as above. The respondent, on such a representation, may consider it on its own merits. All the writ petitions stand dismissed. No costs. Sd/ Asst. Registrar /true copy/ Sub Asst.Registrar ts To 1. The Secretary to Government, Finance (Pension) Department, Fort St. George,Chennai-600 009. 2. The Examiner, Local Fund Accounts, Kuralagam,Chennai. + 3 cc to Mr.S.M.Subramaniam,Advocate,SR.27543,26797 + 1 cc to Government Pleader,SR.27349 W.P.No.6492 of 2006, etc., NSM(CO) EM+PMK+TP/18.8.09 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/