D.Janarthanan v. The Managing Director
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 09.01.2024 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN D.Janarthanan
...Petitioner
-Vs1.The Managing Director Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd. Pallavan Illam Mount Road, Pallavan Salai Chennai - 600 002.
2.The General Manager Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd. Pallavan Illam Mount Road, Pallavan Salai Chennai - 600 002.
3.The Administrator Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Fund Trust Thiruvalluvar House Pallavan Salai Chennai - 600 002.
...Respondents
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Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to settle the interest for the belated payment of retirement benefits such as Gratuity, Earned Leave, Commutation of Pension, Provident Fund and other retirement benefits payable to the petitioner with 6% rate of interest within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court. For petitioner : Mr.N.Sudhagar Nagaraj For respondents 1 & 2 : Mr.R.Balaji Standing Counsel For respondent 3 : Mr.C.S.K.Sathish Standing Counsel
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed for direction to the respondents to pay appropriate interest to the petitioner for the delayed sanction and disbursement of retirement benefits.
2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents and perused the materials available on record.
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3. In identical issues, this Court has passed various orders, justifying the payment of interest to the aggrieved pensioners and in the order dated 13.12.2019 in W.P.(MD).No.26481 of 2019, the following order came to be passed : - ''5. I am not in agreement with the said representation made. There was already a duty cast on the respondent Corporation to pay the terminal benefits on the date of retirement itself and the very fact that the belated disbursement of retirement benefit, had already put the retired employee to serious prejudice, entertaining the present request for disbursement of the interest on the belated payment in installments, could cause further prejudice to the retired employee.
6. In the light of the above observations, there shall be a direction to the respondent / Corporation to pay the penal interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the belated payment of the retirement benefits for the period from the date of the retirement, till the date of the actual disbursement, as expeditiously as possible and in any event, not before the expiry of three month from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
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4. This Court is of the view that the respondents could be directed to pay the interest on the belated payment, at the rate of 6% per annum, as ordered in the above writ petition.
5. In the light of the above findings, there shall be a direction to the respondents herein to pay the interest on the belated payment of the terminal benefits to the petitioner at the rate of 6% per annum, commencing from the date of the retirement, till the date of actual disbursement, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.
6. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.
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To 1.The Managing Director Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd. Pallavan Illam Mount Road, Pallavan Salai Chennai - 600 002.
2.The General Manager Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd. Pallavan Illam Mount Road, Pallavan Salai Chennai - 600 002.
3.The Administrator Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Fund Trust Thiruvalluvar House Pallavan Salai Chennai - 600 002.
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G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN,J.
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