2026:MHC:2994 WA No. 2021 of 2026 __________ Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 17-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S. M. SUBRAMANIAM AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.SENTHILKUMAR WA No. 2021 of 2026 1. The State of Tamil Nadu Rep. By Its Additional Chief Secretary To The Government, Home (Police) Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009. 2. The Director General Of Police (Law and Order) (Head Of Police Force), Office Of The Director General Of Police, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004. 3. The Commissioner Of Police Vepery, Chennai. 4. The Deputy Commissioner Of Police Welfare And Housing Chennai. ..Appellant(s) Vs 1. N.Manimaran 2. The Principal Accountant General (A and E) Teynampet, Chennai. ..Respondent(s) Writ Appeal filed Clause 15 of the Letters Patent issuing writ of certiorari mandamus to set aside the impugned order dated 28.08.2025 made https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2026:MHC:2994 WA No. 2021 of 2026 __________ Page2 of 5 in WP No.32005 of 2025 allow the Writ Appeal. For Appellant(s): Dr.R.Gouri, Government Counsel For Respondent(s): Mr.V.Lakshminarayanan for R1, Ms.V.Kanchana for Mr.V.Vijay Shankar, Standing Counsel for R2 JUDGMENT (Judgment of the Court was delivered by S.M.Subramaniam J.) The State preferred the present writ appeal challenging the writ order dated 28.08.2025 made in WP No.32005 of 2025. 2. Respondent was appointed as Grade II Police Constable in Tamil Nadu Police Department. He retired as Sub-Inspector of Police on 28.02.2025. On his retirement, his pay was refixed and recovery order was passed based on the audit objection. The fixation done in the case of the respondent was erroneous. 3. Learned Single Judge relying on the principle laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the case of State of Punjab v. Rafiq Masih1, held that the error in refixation can be corrected but recovery of excess salary paid shall not be recovered. 12015 4 SCC 334 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2026:MHC:2994 WA No. 2021 of 2026 __________ Page3 of 5 4. Authorities Competent are empowered to rectify the errors in fixation of pay and grant the correct pay as applicable. However, in the absence of any misrepresentation on the part of the employee, excess salary paid at the instance of the department cannot be recovered. It is an error committed by the Establishment for which the petitioner cannot be penalised after a lapse of many years. Recovery of excess salary at this length of time would result in extreme hardship to the employee. 5. The Writ order dated 28.08.2025 made in WP No.32005 of 2025 is in consonance with the legal principle settled by the Courts. Thus, this Court does not find any infirmity in the impugned order. 6. However, the appellants are directed to refund the recovered amount, if any, to the respondent within a period of 8 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. With the above directions, the appeal is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions, if any, are closed. (S.M.S.,J.) (N.S.,J.) 17-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No GD https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2026:MHC:2994 WA No. 2021 of 2026 __________ Page4 of 5 To 1. The Principal Accountant General (A and E) Teynampet, Chennai. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis 2026:MHC:2994 WA No. 2021 of 2026 __________ Page5 of 5 S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J. AND N.SENTHILKUMAR, J. GD WA No. 2021 of 2026 17-07-2026 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis