A JOTHIBAI Vs. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner was originally appointed as Anganwadi worker Grade-I on 01.11.1971 on consolidated pay and continued as Anganwadi worker till 27.11.1998. Subsequently, on 28.11.1998 the petitioner was appointed as Rural Welfare Officer (Women) and, subsequently, relieved from service on attaining the age of superannuation. THE question raised in the present writ petition is whether the services rendered by the Anganwadi worker on consolidated pay from 01.11.1971 till 27.11.1998 should be counted as qualifying service for the purpose of getting pension.

(2.) THE learned counsel for the petitioner, to support her contention, relied on G.O.Ms.No.408 of 2009 dated 25.08.2009, wherein it has been held that half of the services rendered on consolidated pay, non provincialised service, or an honorarium or daily wages can also be counted for the purpose of getting pension. On the basis of the said G.O., the learned counsel for the petitioner prayed for allowing the present writ petition.

(3.) THE petitioner, after her appointment as Anganwadi worker Grade-I on 01.11.1971, worked till 27.11.1998 on consolidated pay. On 28.11.1998, she was appointed as Rural Welfare Officer (Women). But, after becoming Rural Welfare Officer on 28.11.1998, since the petitioner retired from service on 31.05.1999, the services of the petitioner as Rural Welfare Officer from 28.11.1998 to 31.05.1999 being insufficient for getting pension, prayer has been made to Count the services rendered by the petitioner as Anganwadi worker on consolidated pay from 01.11.1971 to 27.11.1998 for pensionary purpose as qualifying service, for which reliance is placed on G.O.Ms.No.408 dated 25.08.2009. However, a perusal of G.O.Ms.No.408 dated 25.08.2009 it would be clear that only 50% of the services rendered by the petitioner on consolidated pay can be allowed to be counted for the purpose of computing qualifying service.