Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 08-09-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner: N. Padmapriya, wife of Ramkumar, residing at B1, Delli Villa Sai Villa Sai Nat Foundation, Sri Ambal Nagar Extension, Pallikaranai, Chennai.
  • Ward (Respondent): Selvi N. Jayapoornima, the petitioner’s elder sister, diagnosed with moderate intellectual disability (60% permanent brain disability) as per Disability Certificate dated 01.08.2023 issued by the Unique Disability Identity Card (UDID) Issuing Authority, Ranipet.
  • Parents: Mr. E. Nandakumar (retired Tech‑I Engineer, Southern Railway Engineering Workshop, Arakkonam) died on 19.04.2024; Mrs. Umadevi (homemaker) died on 21.08.2022.
  • Pension Details: The father drew a pension under Old Pension Payment Order (PPO) No. 0614222082 dated 30.04.2012, later converted to New PPO No. 210127061400007. The ward was a dependent under this order and was receiving a monthly family pension of Rs 29,753 as on 25.04.2024.
  • Financial Needs: The petitioner states that Rs 40,000‑50,000 per month is required for medical expenses, medication, bills, caregiving costs, and other miscellaneous expenses of the ward.
  • Bank Account: A joint savings account No. 43422510821 was opened on 08.10.2024 at State Bank of India, Arakkonam Branch, in the names of Padmapriya and Jayapoornima.
  • Procedural Background: When the petitioner approached Southern Railway for pension disbursement, the authority required a valid Guardianship Certificate or a competent court order. No objections were raised to the petition after newspaper publications in Makkal Kural (Tamil daily, 20.11.2025) and Trinity Mirror (English daily, 20.11.2025).
  • Exhibits: The petition was supported by 17 documents (Ex.P1‑Ex.P17) including death certificates of the parents, legal heirship certificate, original pension order, disability certificate, unique disability ID card, medical record notebook, Aadhaar cards, joint bank passbook, and a certificate under Section 63(4)(c) of the Banking Services Act.

Final Outcome

1. Guardian Appointment: The court appoints N. Padmapriya as the legal guardian of the person and manager of the property of Selvi N. Jayapoornima under Clause 17 of the Letters Patent, 1865.

2. Pension Management: Padmapriya is authorized to receive the family pension of Rs 29,753 on behalf of Jayapoornima and to operate the joint SBI account (No. 43422510821) for the ward’s benefit. The pension‑disbursing authority and the bank must honor this order upon production of a copy.

3. Use of Funds: The pension funds must be utilized exclusively for the ward’s monthly maintenance, medical treatment, caregiving costs, and overall well‑being.

4. Reporting Requirement: Padmapriya must file a true account of her management of the pension before the Registry of the Court once every year.

5. Duration of Appointment: The guardianship remains in force during the period of Jayapoornima’s disability and shall cease upon her regaining capacity, her death, or any further order of the Court. Any interested person may apply for variation or revocation.

6. Costs: No order as to costs was made.

Topics: Guardianship, Pension, Disability Welfare