B.Rajarajacholan v. The Managing Director
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 08.09.2023 CORAM :
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE N. SATHISH KUMAR
1. B.Rajarajacholan
2. A.Thulsi Rajan
3. K.Ravichandran
4. M.Raja
5. G.Mohan
6. P.Balu
7. K.Mohan
8. S.Elango
9. E.P.Selvaraju 10.D.Chandramohan 11.N.Balakrishnan 12.S.Ganesan 13.Damotharan 14.C.Raja 15.P.Elumalai 16.A.Durai 17.M.Natarajan ... Petitioners Vs.
1.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Villupuram) Ltd., No.3/137, Salamedu, Vazhatha Reddy PO, Villupuram - 605 602.
2.The General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Villupuram) Ltd., Villupuram Region, Villupuram - 605 401.
3.The Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Employees Pension Fund Trust, No.2, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
... Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to pay interest @ 10% for the belated payment of Gratuity, Leave Salary, Provident Fund and Commutation of Pension amount to the petitioners. For Petitioners : Mr.S.T.Varadarajalu For R1 and R2 : Mr.R.Venkatasa Perumal For R3 : Mr.C.S.K.Sathish
O R D E R
This writ petition has been filed to direct the respondents to pay interest @ 10% for the belated payment of Gratuity, Leave Salary, Provident Fund and Commutation of Pension amount to the petitioners. 2.It is the case of the petitioners that they retired from the respondent Corporation on various dates, however, their retirement benefits were settled belatedly as follows :
Petitioners Date of Retirement Date of settlement B.Rajarajacholan 30.06.2022 30.05.2023
Petitioners Date of Retirement Date of settlement A.Thulsi Rajan 31.05.2022 30.05.2023 K.Ravichandran 31.08.2022 30.05.2023 M.Raja 31.10.2019 21.01.2021 G.Mohan 31.05.2022 23.05.2023 P.Balu 30.06.2022 23.05.2023 K.Mohan 30.06.2022 18.06.2023 S.Elango 30.11.2022 30.05.2023 E.P.Selvaraj 31.07.2022 30.05.2023 D.Chandramohan 30.06.2022 29.05.2023 N.Balakrishnan 30.06.2022 30.05.2023 S.Ganesan 15.12.2020 01.12.2022 V.Damodaran 30.06.2022 29.05.2023 C.Raja 30.11.2022 23.05.2023 P.Elumalai 31.05.2022 30.05.2023 A.Durai 31.05.2022 23.05.2023 M.Natarajan 30.06.2022 23.05.2023 Therefore, it is the contention of the petitioners that the petitioners are eligible for interest on the belated payment of their retirement benefits. Hence, the petitioners seek interest at the rate of 10% p.a. for the belated payment of their retirement benefits.
3.Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr.R.Venkatesa Perumal, learned counsel, who takes notice for the respondents 1 and 2 and Mr.C.S.K.Sathish, learned counsel, who takes notice for the 3rd respondent.
4.This Court, in various decisions, have already taken a view that, in all cases of belated payment of terminal benefits, the concerned employee would be entitled to interest at the rate of 4% per annum. Hence, this Court is of the view that the petitioners are entitled to interest at the rate of 4% per annum on the belated payment of the terminal benefits.
5.Accordingly, the respondents are directed to pay interest at the rate of 4% per annum on the belated payment of the retirement benefits to the petitioners, from the date of their retirement till the date of actual disbursement, within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
6.With the above direction, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.
08.09.2023 mkn Internet : Yes Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Nonspeaking order To
1.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Villupuram) Ltd., No.3/137, Salamedu, Vazhatha Reddy PO, Villupuram - 605 602.
2.The General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Villupuram) Ltd., Villupuram Region, Villupuram - 605 401.
3.The Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Employees Pension Fund Trust, No.2, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
N. SATHISH KUMAR, J.
mkn 08.09.2023