R.Soundararajan v. M/S.Tamilnadu State Transport

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 09-10-2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA & WMP No.42473 of 2025

1. R.Soundararajan, No.33/1, Bagavath First Street, Edayarpalayam, Thadagam Road, Coimbatore- 641 025.

2. R.Rayappan, No.2/75, Engineer Garden, Somaiyanur Post, Thandagam Road, Coimabtore - 641 108.

3.P Mayilsamy, No. 87-A, Appanayakkan Palayam, K- Vada Madurai Post, Coimabtore- 641 017.

4.K Maria Doss, No.15D/5, Sedan Garden, Gnambigai Mills Post, Coimbatore - 641 029.

5.Padmanaban .N No.9/14, Vkv Nests, Periyar Street, Ramakrishnapuram, Gnanpathy, Coimbatore 641 006.

Petitioner(s) Vs M/s.Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation (Covai) Ltd, Rep by its Managing Director, 37, Mettu Palayam Road, Coimbatore-641 025 Respondent(s) PRAYER This Writ Petition has been filed seeking for issuance of a Mandamus, to direct the respondent herein to fix the pay of the petitioners 1 to 5 herein by adopting 2.57 matrix by taking into account of the 7th Pay Commission and pay the consequential benefits to the petitioners herein by considering the representation of the petitioners 1 to 5 dated 02.07.2025 and in the light of the orders of the Madurai Bench of this Court in W. P (MD) No.3609 of 2020 dated 20.06.2023 and confirmed by the Division Bench of this Court in W. A (MD) No.1099 of 2024 dated 04.07.2024 and further confirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in SLP No.26264 of 2024 dated 11.11.2024. For Petitioner(s):

Mr.D.Soundar Raj For Respondent(s):

Mr.C.Gowthamaraj

ORDER

By consent of both parties, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the stage of admission itself.

2.This Writ Petition has been filed seeking issuance of a Mandamus, to direct the respondent herein to fix the pay of the petitioners 1 to 5 herein by adopting 2.57 matrix by taking into account the 7th Pay Commission recommendations and pay the consequential benefits to the petitioners herein by considering the representation of the petitioners 1 to 5 dated 02.07.2025 and in the light of the orders of the Madurai Bench of this Court in W. P (MD) No.3609 of 2020 dated 20.06.2023, which was confirmed by the Division Bench of this Court in W. A (MD) No.1099 of 2024 dated 04.07.2024 and further confirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in SLP No.26264 of 2024 dated 11.11.2024.

3.Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and perused the materials available on record.

4.The case of the petitioners is that they were appointed in the respondent Corporation between 1979 and 1984 and retired from service on attaining their age of superannuation. There were two kinds of pay pattern in the State

Transport Undertakings, viz., i) for workers, wages are revised once in three years as per settlement arrived under Section 12(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and ii) for Supervisors and Managerial Cadre Officers, on a par with the Government Servants based on Pay Commission's recommendation once in 10 years. While so, based on the request of the respondent, the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.220, Transport (C1) Department dated 23.07.2018, constituting a Committee to recommend for fixation of pay for the employees who are governed under 12(3) Settlement and who are promoted on or after 01.01.2016 and migrated to Government pattern of scale of pay, which concluded that the existing benefits allowed in the said G.O.No.220, Transport (C1) Department dated 23.08.2018 i.e. by applying 2.44 multiplier factor.

The Association had given various representations, seeking to adopt 2.57 multiplier factor. Pursuant to the said representations, an Arbitrator was appointed, who passed an Award, recommending to fix 2.44 multiplier. By way of implementation of the said Award, the Government issued G.O.(Ms.)No.330, Transport (C1) Department dated 31.10.2018, revising the pay by adopting 2.44 multiplier.

5. Aggrieved by the said G.O., a writ petition in W.P.(MD) No.3609 of 2020 came to be filed by one of the employees, namely Thiru S.Sampath, which, by order dated 20.06.2023 came to be disposed of, directing the respondents to refix the pay by adopting 2.57 multiplier by taking into account th Pay Commission recommendations. The order passed in the above said writ petition came to be confirmed by a Division Bench of this Court vide judgment dated 04.07.2024 and an appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court in SLP No.26264 of 2024 also came to be dismissed. Therefore, the petitioners made a representation dated 02.07.2025 to the respondent, seeking to consider their case in the light of the orders passed by this Court in W.P(MD) No.3609 of 2020 dated 20.06.2023.

Since no response was forthcoming from the respondent, the petitioners have come forward with the present writ petition. 6.The issue as regards adopting 2.57 multiplier/matrix is no longer res integra in view of the order dated 20.06.2023 passed by the Madurai Bench of this Court in W.P (MD) No.

Division Bench of this Court. In the light of the said order, it appears that the petitioners have made a representation dated 02.07.2025, which was not disposed of by the respondent, which prompted the petitioners to come forward with the present writ petition.

7.Hence, considering the limited prayer sought by the petitioners, the respondent is directed to consider the representation of the petitioners, dated 02.07.2025 and dispose of the same in the light of the order dated 20.06.2023 passed by this Court in W.P.(MD) No.3609 of 2020, within a period of twelve

(12) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 8.With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 09-10-2025 dn Index:Yes/No

To 1.M/s.Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation Covai Ltd, Rep by its Managing Director, 37 Mettu Palayam Road, Coimbatore-641 025

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.

dn 09-10-2025