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Madras High CourtCMP/8623/2026disposed of with direction

S.Sankarapandian, v. The Commissioner,

2026-04-17Honourable Mr Justice M.Dhandapani7 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 17-04-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI in Rev. Appln. No.52 of 2026 S.Sankarapandian, S/o.Sethu Ramasamy E.B.Contractor D.No.8/16, Kuttikadu Nagar Annai Indira Nagar (West) KK Pudur, Sai Baba Colony Coimbatore-642011 ..Appellant(s) Vs

1. The Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore, Coimbatore-642 001.

2. Saraswathi, W/o.Velumayil alias Sampath, No.1/244, Pollachi Main Road, Sunderapuram, Coimbatore-641 024

3. V.Loganathan, S/o.Velumayil alias Sampath, No.1/244, Pollachi Main Road, Sunderapuram, Coimbatore-641 024 Jayalakshmi (died)

4. Shanmugam, S/o.Venkidusamy Machampalayam,

Pollachi Main Road, Sunderapuram, Coimbatore-641 024

5. V.Poongodi, D/o.Venkidusamy, 84-2, Komall Konor Thotam, MGR Nagar, Sunderapuram, Coimbatore-641 021.

6. V.Anandan, S/o.Venkidusamy, 5/55, Sriram Nagar, Kuniyamuthur, Coimbatore-641 008

7. V.Nandagopal, S/o.Venkidusamy 1/40, Idayarpalayam Road, Machampalayam, Sunderapalayam, Coimbatore-641 024 ..Respondent(s) Petition filed to direct the Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Coimbatore, to refund the deposited amount of Rs.11,68,484/- (Rupees Eleven Lakhs Sixty Eight Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty Four) along with its interest till date which is lying in an account to the credit of EC.No.15/2014 to the petitioner and thus render justice.

For Appellant(s):

Ms.R.Pushpalatha For Respondent(s):

Mr.Magesh for R1 Mr.K.Vasanthanayagam for R2 & R3

ORDER

This Civil Miscellaneous Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Coimbatore, to refund the deposited amount of Rs.11,68,484/- (Rupees Eleven Lakhs Sixty Eight Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty Four) along with its interest till date which is lying in an account to the credit of E.C.No.15 of 2014 to the petitioner.

2. Heard the learned counsels appearing on either side.

3. The petitioner/Contractor and the first respondent Corporation herein are the appellant and fourth respondent in CMA No.3273 of 2019. Aggrieved by the award passed by the Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Coimbatore in E.C No.15 of 2014, the Contractor has filed an appeal before this Court in CMA.No.3273 of 2019. The contractor further claimed that he had already deposited the amount before the Labour Court whereas the first respondent Corporation has not taken any steps to pay the compensation amount to him. This Court, by order dated 17.11.2025, allowed the appeal on the ground that the first respondent Corporation had not produced any documentary evidence regarding the contract entered into between the first respondent Corporation and the Contractor/appellant therein. Subsequently, the review petition has been filed by the Coimbatore Corporation, however, the same was dismissed on

06.02.2026 by recording the statement of the learned Advocate General to the effect that the learned Additional Advocate General had produced a Demand Draft bearing No.447297 dated 05.02.2026, drawn on Indian Bank, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation Office Branch, for a sum of Rs.11,68,484/- in favour of the Registrar General, Madras High Court along with a letter of the Assistant Commissioner, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation, dated 05.02.2026 and had issued a direction to the Registrar General of this Court to deposit the said Demand Draft bearing No.447297 dated 05.02.2026 drawn on Indian Bank, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation Office Branch, for a sum of Rs.11,68,484/- in an interest-bearing deposit in any one of the Nationalised Banks and also directed to send a communication to the District Legal Services Authority, Coimbatore, enabling it to trace the claimants and disburse the said amount to them and to file a report before this Court on 27.02.2026 and thus, posted the matter for reporting compliance.

4. Today, the District Legal Services Authority, Coimbatore has filed a report dated 15.04.2026 identifying the claimants along with the legal heir certificate. Pursuant to the direction of this Court, the Registrar General of this Court has deposited the said Demand Draft bearing No.447297 dated 05.02.2026 drawn on Indian Bank, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation Office Branch, for a sum of Rs.11,68,484/- in an interest bearing deposit in the Indian Bank, Madras High Court Branch for a period of 444 days. In view of the same,

the District Legal Services Authority, Coimbatore is directed to take steps to transfer the said deposited amount by the Registrar General from the Indian Bank, Madras High Court Branch to the name of the claimants, within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Upon any steps taken by the District Legal Services Authority, Coimbatore, in this regard, the Manager, Indian Bank, Madras High Court Branch is directed to transfer the amount as per the direction of this Court to the District Legal Services Authority to the claimants.

5. Pursuant to the order of the Labour Court, Coimbatore, the Contractor/petitioner herein had deposited the compensation amount along with interest before the Labour Court in E.C.No.15 of 2014, however, the same was allowed by fixing the liability as against the first respondent Corporation, who in turn shall pay the same to the Contractor/petitioner herein. In view of the above, the Contractor/ petitioner herein is entitled for the said deposited amount pending on the file of the Labour Court, Coimbatore in E.C.No.15 of 2014. As the first respondent Corporation has paid the compensation amount through Demand Draft as stated supra, the Labour Court is directed to disburse the deposited compensation amount in favour of the appellant in CMA No.3273 of 2019/Contractor/petitioner herein. The Labour Court is directed to pay the principal amount of Rs.11,68,484/- to the Contractor/ petitioner herein/ appellant in CMA.No.3273 of 2019 and the interest amount may be disbursed to

the claimants. Liberty is granted to the claimants to receive the interest amount from the Labour Court.

6. The Civil Miscellaneous Petition is disposed of in the above terms. 17-04-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order DP Note: Registry is directed to mark a copy of this order to i)District Legal Services Authority, Coimbatore ii)The Branch Manager, Indian Bank, Madras High Court.

To 1.The Labour Court, Coimbatore.

2.The Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore, Coimbatore-642 001.

M.DHANDAPANI, J.

DP 17-04-2026