G.Babu 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.G.Babu 2.K.Venkat Rao 3.S.Balaraman 4.R.Muniyan 5.P.Sathiyanathan 6.N.Jayaseelan 7.D.Sarangapani 8.K.Ramachandran 9.S.Subash 10.S.K.Raja 11.S.Dasarathan 12.Kubendran 13.R.Balan 14.K.Arumugam 15.K.Mohan 16.K.Palani 17.J.Selvamani 18.V.Pitchai 19.Muthumanickam ... Petitioners Vs.
1.The Managing Director, Villupuram Region, No.3/137, Salamedu, Vazhatha Reddy PO, Villupuram - 605 602.
2.The General Manager, Vellore Region, Rangapuram, Vellore - 632 009.
3.The Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Employees Pension Fund Trust, 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 G.Babu 30.06.2019 22.01.2021 K.Venkatrao 31.07.2019 22.01.2021 S.Balaraman 30.06.2019 22.01.2021 R.Muniyan 30.04.2019 22.01.2021 P.Sathiyanathan 30.06.2018 19.09.2019 N.Jayaseelan 31.05.2018 19.09.2019 D.Sarangapani 31.03.2020 19.06.2021 K.Ramachandran 31.05.2018 31.08.2019 S.Subash 30.06.2018 19.09.2019 S.K.Raja 30.11.2019 22.01.2021 C.Dasarathan 30.04.2020 19.06.2021 B.Kubendran 30.06.2019 22.01.2021 R.Balan 30.06.2018 31.08.2019 K.Arumugam 31.05.2019 22.01.2021 K.Mohan 31.05.2019 22.01.2021 K.Palani 30.06.2022 20.06.2023 J.Selvamani 30.06.2018 19.09.2019 V.Pichai 30.06.2022 25.06.2023 R.Muthumanickam 31.05.2022 26.06.2023 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, Villupuram Region, No.3/137, Salamedu, Vazhatha Reddy PO, Villupuram - 605 602.
2.The General Manager, Vellore Region, Rangapuram, Vellore - 632 009.
3.The Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Employees Pension Fund Trust, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.
N. SATHISH KUMAR, J.
mkn 08.09.2023