← Library
Madras High CourtWP/15750/2025disposed of

A.Pichamuthu v. The Managing Director

2025-06-02Honourable Mr.Justice C.Kumarappan8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 02.06.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE Mr.JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN W.P.No.15750, 16374, 16377, 16379, 16381, 16385, 16386, 16389, 16457, 16458, 16459, 16461, 16463, 16464, 16466, 16467, 16469, 16471, 16472, 16474, 16475, 16478, 164783, 16484, 16485, 16486, 16489, 16670, 16671, 16673, 16677 and 16680 of 2025 A.Pichamuthu ... Petitioner in W.P.No.15750 of 2025 N.Sudharshanan Nair ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16374 of 2025 U.Palani ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16377 of 2025 V.Sukumaran ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16379 of 2025 N.Udayakumar ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16381 of 2025 B.Srinivasan ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16385 of 2025 S.Damotharan ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16386 of 2025 P.Jayamani ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16389 of 2025 R.Selvaraj ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16457 of 2025 B.R.Venkatesan ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16458 of 2025 T.Ayyappan ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16459 of 2025 M.Chandira Kutti ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16461 of 2025 1/8

P.Jayakumar ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16463 of 2025 S.Karunakaran ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16464 of 2025 D.Vijayakumar ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16466 of 2025 K.Sankaran ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16467 of 2025 S.Selvaraj ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16469 of 2025 N.Vincent ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16471 of 2025 K.Kalaimani ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16472 of 2025 Y.Damodaran ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16474 of 2025 B.Mohan ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16475 of 2025 K.Ramesh Babu ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16478 of 2025 S.Thilagavathi ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16483 of 2025 V.Sumathi ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16484 of 2025 T.Thandayuthapani ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16485 of 2025 K.Thangarathinavelu ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16486 of 2025 T.Rajakumar ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16489 of 2025 K.Gunasekaran ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16670 of 2025 T.Sasidharan ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16671 of 2025 M.Varghese ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16673 of 2025 2/8

K.Srinivasan ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16677 of 2025 P.Baskaran ... Petitioner in W.P.No.16680 of 2025 Vs.

1. The Managing Director, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd., Pallavan Illam, Mount Road, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

2. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Fund Trust, Rep. by its Administrator, Thiruvalluvar Illam Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

... Respondents in all W.Ps Common Prayer:- Writ Petitions filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to settle the interest for the belated payment of retirement benefits such as gratuity, commutation of pension, provident fund and other retirement benefits payable to the petitioners with 12% rate of interest within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.

For Petitioner in all W.P.s : Mr.L.Poovendra Perumal For Respondents : Mr.R.Balaji, in all W.Ps.

Standing Counsel (MTC) for R1 Mr.C.S.K.Sathish, Standing Counsel (for R2) ***** 3/8

C O M M O N O R D E R The instant writ petitions have been filed with a prayer for issuing a Mandamus, to direct the respondents to settle the interest for the belated payment of retirement benefits such as gratuity, commutation of pension, provident fund and other retirement benefits payable to the petitioner with 12% rate of interest within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.

2. The case of the petitioners is that they were appointed in the first respondent Transport Corporation on various dates and after completion of unblemished service, the petitioners had either retired or voluntarily retired from service on 31.05.2023, 31.03.2020, 30.06.2022, 30.04.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.03.2019, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 30.04.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.12.2021, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.03.2019, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023, 31.05.2023 and 31.05.2023 respectively. However, the terminal benefits have been settled to them only on 10.03.2025, 02.06.2021, 4/8

23.05.2023, 12.02.2025, 21.09.2019, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 12.02.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 15.05.2023, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 02.06.2021, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2023, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025, 10.03.2025 and 10.03.2025 respectively and no interest has been paid for the delayed period. In view of the same, the petitioners submitted representations dated 12.03.2025, 15.02.2025, 18.03.2025, 12.03.2025, 14.03.2025, 14.03.2025, 13.03.2025, 13.03.2025, 29.03.2025, 24.03.2025, 11.03.2025, 14.03.2025, 11.03.2025, 12.03.2025, 11.03.2025, 11.03.2025, 18.03.2025, 17.03.2025, 17.02.2025, 18.03.2025, 14.03.2025, 13.03.2025, 14.03.2025, 14.03.2025, 11.03.2025, 18.03.2025, 12.03.2025, 18.03.2025, 18.03.2025, 11.03.2025, 18.03.2025 and 11.03.2025 respectively to the respondents to pay interest for the delayed period. Since the same were not considered, the present Writ Petitions have been filed.

3. The learned Standing Counsel for the respondents would fairly concede that in view of the similar orders passed by this Court in W.P.Nos 40031, 33742 and 35806 of 2024, they are willing to pay the interest at the 5/8

rate of 6% per annum for the belated payment of the eligible and admissible amount.

4. Heard the learned counsel for both sides and perused the materials available on record.

5. In view of the above submission of the learned Standing Counsel, this Court deems it appropriate to direct the respondents to pay the interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of retirement till the date of actual disbursal of the terminal benefits to the petitioners, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

6. In the result, these Writ Petitions are disposed of with the above observations. No costs.

02.06.2025 kv Index : Yes/No Speaking order /Non Speaking Order 6/8

To

1. The Managing Director, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd., Pallavan Illam, Mount Road, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

2. The Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Fund Trust, Thiruvalluvar Illam Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

7/8

C.KUMARAPPAN, J.

kv 02.06.2025 8/8