J.Saradha Devi v. The Director of Elementary Education

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 02.03.2026 CORAM: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR and THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.JOTHIRAMAN and C.M.P(MD)Nos.20292 & 20508 of 2025

1.W.A(MD)No.3260 of 2025: J.Saradha Devi

... Appellant/Petitioner vs.

1.The Director of Elementary Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

2.The District Educational Officer (Elementary), Madurai District.

3.The Block Educational Officer, Madurai South, Madurai District.

4.The Secretary, Nadar Vidhya Salai Middle School, No.16, Nadar Vidhya Salai Street, Therku Vasal, Madurai - 625 001. ... Respondents/Respondents PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the common order dated 29.08.2025 made in W.P(MD)No.22007 of 2025 on the file of this Court. For Appellant : Mr.D.Saravanan For Respondents : Mr.J.Ashok

Additional Government Pleader

for R.1 to R.3 : No appearance (for R.4)

2.W.A(MD)No.3281 of 2025: P.Latha

... Appellant/Petitioner vs.

1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by its Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Chennai.

2.The Director of Elementary Education, O/o.The Director of Elementary Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

3.The District Educational Officer (Elementary), Ottanchathiram, Dindigul District.

4.The Block Educational Officer, Block-I, Vedachandur, Dindigul District. ... Respondents/Respondents PRAYER : Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the common order dated 29.08.2025 made in W.P(MD)No.18769 of 2025 on the file of this Court. For Appellant : Mr.M.Kannan For Respondents : Mr.J.Ashok

Additional Government Pleader

for R.1 to R.4 COMMON JUDGMENT [Judgment of the Court was made by N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.) Challenge has been made in these Writ Appeals to the dismissal order passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(MD)Nos.22007 of 2025 and 18769 of 2025 dated 29.08.2025, in respect of the incentive increments.

2.The appellants/writ petitioners, while working as Secondary Grade Teachers, were granted incentive increments for holding the degree of M.A (Economics). Subsequently, by orders dated 12.03.2025 and 17.06.2025, and the consequential orders dated 23.06.2025 and 19.06.2025, the incentive increments sanctioned to the appellants/writ petitioners were cancelled and recovery was ordered. However, the learned Single Judge upheld the cancellation but held that recovery was not permissible. Challenging the order of the learned Single Judge dismissing the Writ Petitions insofar as the refixation of incentive increments is concerned, the present Writ Appeals have been preferred by the writ petitioners.

3.The learned counsel appearing on either side submitted that, in an identical matter, the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.(MD) No. 2748 of 2025, etc., batch dated 09.01.2026 [V. Gnana Christal Ida vs. The State of Tamil Nadu, represented by its Secretary to Government and others], allowed the Writ Appeals and held that all the teachers are entitled to incentive increments. Therefore, the orders passed by the authorities are liable to be set aside.

4.Since the matter is already covered by the decision of the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.(MD)No.2748 of 2025, etc., batch dated

09.01.2026, these Writ Appeals are allowed in pursuance of the said Division Bench judgment.

5.Accordingly, these Writ Appeals are allowed and the impugned order of the learned Single Judge is set aside in the light of the judgment passed by the Division Bench. The appellants are entitled to incentive increments as originally fixed. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed. [N.S.K.,J.] [M.J.R.,J.]

02.03.2026 NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No ps To

1.The Director of Elementary Education, DPI Campus, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai.

2.The District Educational Officer (Elementary), Madurai District.

3.The Block Educational Officer, Madurai South, Madurai District.

4.The Secretary to Government, School Education Department, Secretariat, Chennai.

5.The Director of Elementary Education, O/o.The Director of Elementary Education, College Road, Chennai - 600 006.

6.The District Educational Officer (Elementary), Ottanchathiram, Dindigul District.

7.The Block Educational Officer, Block-I, Vedachandur, Dindigul District. W.A(MD)Nos.3260e&e3281eofe2025 oN.SATHISHoKUMARoo,J.o and M.JOTHIRAMAN,J. ps ORDERoMADEoIN W.A(MD)Nos.3260o&o3281oofo2025 DATEDo:o02.03.2026