Geeitha Arun v. Union of India

ORDER The petitioner challenges the communication dated 17.03.2016 issued by the second respondent. By the said communication, the petitioner's request for payment of house rent allowance at Central Government rates came to be rejected.

¶2The petitioner retired from service while serving as a Librarian in Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, a College under Kalakshetra Foundation i.e., the second respondent. The petitioner had excised her option for availing vacation which is exclusively granted to the teaching staff in the year 2006 and the said option was extended and the petitioner availed vacation till she attained the age of superannuation. While in service, the petitioner made a claim with the respondents 2 & 3 stating that she entitled for house rent allowance at Central Government rates. Through the impugned communication, the said claim came to be rejected.

¶3Heard M/s.R.T.Shyamala, learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr.K.Ramanamoorthy, learned Senior Panel Counsel for the first respondent and Mr.Menon, learned counsel for the second respondent.

¶4The petitioner excised an option to be treated as Teaching Staff and also for extending pay scale attached to the State Government employees and the petitioner received the pay scale and other allowances at State Government rates.

¶5Given the circumstances, the petitioner made a claim for granting house rent allowance as per the Central Government rates. Having availed vacation and also accepted the pay scale extended to the State Government Employees, the petitioner is not legally entitled to claim house rent allowance at the Central Government rates.

¶6Therefore, the impugned communication issued by the second respondent is strictly in conformity with the leave Rules applicable to the employees of the second respondent which denies house rent allowance at Central Government rates to employees who have availed vacation and also accepted the pay scale attached to the State Government employees. Therefore, this petition is devoid of merits.

¶7Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

16.02.2026 Index : Yes/No Speaking order : Yes/No dna To The Secretary Ministry of Culture Room No.502 Shastri Bhavan "C" Wing New Delhi – 110 115. HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR.J., dna

16.02.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 16.02.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR Geeitha Arun Librarian College of Fine Arts Kalakshetra Foundation No.11/24, Tank Link Road Perambur, Chennai -11. ...Petitioner Vs. 1.Union of India Rep.by its Secretary Ministry of Culture Room No.502 Shastri Bhavan "C" Wing New Delhi – 110 115. 2.Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts Rep.by its Director Kalakshetra Foundation Thiruvanmiyur Chennai 41. 3.The Chairman Kalakshetra Foundation Thiruvanmiyur Chennai 41. ...Respondents Prayer: This Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, to call for the records in G/2015-16/ii. Admin/I. Staff Matters/i. Appointments/a. Regular Employees/ Establishment.doc, dated 17.3.2016 passed by the 2nd respondent and quash the same and further direct the 2nd respondent to revise the pay scale of the petitioner as Rs.6500-200-10500 and further direct the 2nd respondent to pay the HRA for the petitioner from 2006 onwards. For Petitioner : M/s.R.T.Shyamala For Respondents : Mr.K.Ramanamoorthy for R1 Senior Panel Counsel Mr.Menon for R2 R3-Served-No appearance