Summary: A retired teacher, S.J. Karppagadevi, took her case to court seeking interest on delayed retirement benefits. The court decided against her, saying the issue was already settled.
S.J. Karppagadevi, a retired teacher from Dudley Higher Secondary School, filed a request to the court asking for interest on the late payment of her retirement benefits. She wanted the court to cancel an order from the District Educational Officer, Dindigul, and make the government pay interest for the delay.
Initially, S.J. Karppagadevi had filed a request in 2009 for her retirement benefits. This was sent to the Pension Lok Adalat, where it was settled in 2014. The Lok Adalat recorded that everyone agreed the benefits were paid, and the updated pension plan was in progress.
"The matter has already been settled out of Court and all the benefits had been paid to the petitioner."
Even though the Lok Adalat settlement happened, S.J. Karppagadevi claimed that the interest on late payments wasn't discussed. She went back to the Lok Adalat, but was told to talk to her lawyer for what to do next.
When S.J. Karppagadevi went to court again, the District Educational Officer turned down her request, pointing to the earlier settlement. The officer said that part of the delay was because she didn't submit her tax documents on time.
The court, led by Justice Dr. A.D. Maria Clete, dismissed the request. The judge noted that the case was already settled and no interest was mentioned in the Lok Adalat agreement.
"The Petitioner has not made out any case warranting interference by this Court."
The court decided that since the case was already settled and no interest was agreed upon during the settlement, there was no reason to reopen the case.
