Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 10 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Petitioner S. Kamaraj vs. The Secretary Cum General Manager, Managing Director, Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TNWSD Board).
  • Petitions: WP No.19607/2012, WP No.2823/2015, WP No.23086/2019, along with M.P.No.1/2012 and WMP No.22797/2019, consolidated by a common order.
  • Claims: Revision of pay and arrears from 04‑11‑1987 to 31‑01‑2014 and pension from 01‑06‑2017, invoking Government Order (GO) Ms No.762 dated 20‑08‑1986 and Board Proceedings B.P.(Ms) No.505 dated 12‑12‑1986.
  • Background: Petitioner was appointed Helper‑cum‑Welder on 27‑10‑1987, placed on a pay scale Rs.505‑10‑555‑15‑615‑20‑795‑25‑845 plus allowances. He argued entitlement to ordinary grade (Rs.610‑1075) and selection grade (Rs.705‑1230) based on his SSLC + ITI qualification. Multiple representations were filed; the Court earlier directed consideration of a representation dated 06‑08‑2009 (order dated 09‑06‑2011). The respondent issued an order on 02‑08‑2011 rejecting the claim.
  • Respondents’ Contentions: GO Ms No.762 revised pay for certain technical posts but did not list ‘Helper’, ‘Assistant Driller’ or ‘Driller’. The Board proceeding No.547 dated 04‑12‑1997 redesignated the petitioner’s post from ‘Rig Helper’ to ‘Assistant Driller’ with a pay scale Rs.950‑1500, notionally effective from 01‑06‑1988 and monetary benefits from 01‑04‑1992. Similar claims had been dismissed in earlier High Court orders (17‑10‑2012, 25‑03‑2021).
  • Court’s Analysis: The appointment was as a ‘Rig Helper’, a post not mentioned in the annexure of GO Ms No.762; therefore the petitioner cannot claim the benefits of that GO merely by possessing the prescribed qualification. The Board proceeding No.505 applies only to posts listed therein. The redesignation to Assistant Driller under Board proceeding No.547 fixed his pay, and the petitioner cannot retrospectively claim a higher scale after fifteen years. Prior judgments were binding and required parity.

Final Outcome

  • All writ petitions were dismissed as devoid of merit.
  • No costs were awarded to either side.
  • All connected miscellaneous petitions were closed.

Topics: Pay Revision, Public Sector Employment