Let's dive into a recent court decision where Sankarasubramanian's request for a pension was denied. Here's what happened and why.
Sankarasubramanian, our main person here, was appointed as a Noon Meal Organizer on February 1, 1983. He later became a Village Administrative Officer on February 13, 2009, in Sernthamangalam Village, Thiruchendur Taluk. He retired on March 31, 2018, but his request for a pension was turned down.
The issue revolves around whether his work could count towards a pension. Initially, he worked in a job that didn't qualify for a pension, receiving a fixed pay. Only in 2009 did he switch to a role that contributed to the pension plan. The court noted that his earlier work couldn't be counted for pension benefits.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, with Judges Anita Sumanth and C. Kumarappan, ruled against him on November 25, 2025. They agreed with the decision based on the Tamil Nadu Pension Rules, which state that only work done before April 1, 2003, in a regular position counts for pension eligibility.
"Those who are newly appointed on or after 01.04.2003 are not entitled to pension," the court referenced from a previous decision.
Sankarasubramanian's lawyer argued that his work as a Noon Meal Organizer should count. However, the court pointed out that since he was in a non-pensionable role until 2009, he didn't meet the criteria for the old pension plan.
The court's decision was clear: no pension for Sankarasubramanian. This case highlights the importance of understanding how pension rules apply, especially regarding the cutoff dates and types of work.
