P.Periyasamy v. The Managing Director

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 18.02.2026 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI W.P. No s . 5123 and 5128 of 202

1. P. Periyasamy

2. S.K.Balaiaj

3. V. Punniyakodi

4. S. Venugopal

5. M. Ravichandran ...

Petitioners in W.P. No.5123 of 2026

1. V. Balasubramaniam

2. S. Ramamurthi

3. K. Shanmugam

4. G. Velusamy

5. R. Kumarasamy ...

Petitioners in W.P. No.5128 of 2026 Vs

1. The Managing Director Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Coimbatore) Ltd 37 Mettupalayam Road Coimbatore 641 043.

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2. The General Manager Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Coimbatore) Ltd Chennimalai Road Erode 1.

3. The Administrator Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation EPF Trust Pallavan House Thiruvalluvar Salai Chennai 600 002.

...

Respondents in both W.P.s Common Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for the issuance of a Writ of mandamus to direct the respondents to pay interest for the belated payment of Provident Fund, Death-cum-Retirement gratuity, Encashment of Earned Leave, Surrender Leave and commuted value of pension at the rate of 12% p.a., within the time frame fixed by this Court. In both W.P.s For Petitioners : Mr.N.K.Ponraj For Respondents : Mr.M.Murali Vinoth - - - - - Page No. 2 of 5

COMMON ORDER Aggrieved by the belated payment of terminal benefits and pension benefits such as Provident Fund, Death-cum-Retirement gratuity, Encashment of Earned Leave, Surrender Leave and commuted value of pension, the petitioners have come up with these writ petitions seeking interest at the rate of 12% per annum, for the said delay caused on the part of the respondents.

2. In view of the consent expressed by the learned counsel on either side, these writ petitions are taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

3. When the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned counsel for the petitioners brought to the notice of this Court, the order passed by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in a similar matter in W.P.No.25610 of 2024 dated 03.09.2024, wherein this Court had directed the respondent to pay interest at the rate of 6% p.a. for the belated payment of terminal benefits to the petitioner therein within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the respondents did not dispute the above submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioners.

5. This Court perused the order passed in W.P.No.25610 of 2024, wherein, this Court has held as under :

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"5.Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and the grievance expressed by the petitioner, there shall be a direction to the respondent to pay interest at the rate of 6% p.a. for the belated payment of terminal benefits to the petitioner within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that if the amount is not paid within the time frame fixed by this Court, it will fetch interest at the rate of 12% p.a. from the date on which the amount became due and payable till the date of actual realisation."

6. The aforesaid decision is squarely applicable to the facts of the present case. Accordingly, applying the ratio laid down in the above case, these writ petitions are disposed of with a direction to the 1st respondent to pay interest at the rate of 6% p.a. for the belated payment viz., EPF Employee's contribution, Gratuity and Leave salary, P.F. and commutation of pension amount to the petitioners, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 18.02.2026 Index: Yes/No vsi2 Page No. 4 of 5

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

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