No Specific Condition In Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme That Benefit Can’t Be Extended To Persons Who Are Being Taken Care Of By Relatives: Madras HC
The Writ Petition before the Madras High Court was filed challenging the proceedings of the Tahsildar(Social Welfare Scheme).

The Madras High Court ordered that the pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme be granted to an 83-yr-old man. The High Court also clarified that there is no specific condition in the said scheme that the scheme cannot be extended to persons who are being taken care of by the relatives.
The Writ Petition before the High Court was filed challenging the impugned proceedings of the Tahsildar(Social Welfare Scheme) and also seeking a direction to the respondents to disburse the old age pension with arrears and with interest within the period stipulated by the High Court.
The Single-Judge Bench of Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan observed, “Therefore when there is no specific condition in the said scheme that the scheme cannot be extended to persons who is taken care of by the relatives, the respondents ought not to have stated reasons referring to the Petitioner’s relatives taking care of him.”
Advocate M. Jerin Mathew represented the Petitioner while Govt Advocate M. Senthil Ayyanar represented the Respondent.
Factual Background
The petitioner, aged 83 years, is below the poverty line in terms of the economic status and therefore, he applied for an old age pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. However, it was rejected by the first respondent on the basis of the report submitted by the second respondent stating that his wife is getting an old age pension and the Petitioner is looked after by his grandsons for the past several years.
Reasoning
“Though the Petitioner is not a destitute person, it does not mean that he is maintained by his grand sons. Admittedly, the Petitioner has no source of income and he is aged about 83 years”, the Bench noted while also adding, “Further, the scheme does not envisage the relatives with whom the Petitioner is residing to establish that they are taking care of him.”
The Bench further emphasized, “Even though the Petitioner may be taken care of by his grand children, he requires further financial help or other reasons including medical and incidental expenses. Therefore the application of the Petitioner ought not to have been rejected by the first respondent.”
Thus, allowing the Petition, the Bench directed the first respondent (Tehsildar) to grant old age pension to the Petitioner under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme from January 2025 onwards.
Cause Title: Chinnakalai v. The Tahsildar(Social Welfare Scheme) & Anr. (Neutral Citation: 2025:MHC:4336)
Appearance:
Petitioner: Advocate M. Jerin Mathew
Respondent: Govt Advocate M. Senthil Ayyanar