Madras High CourtWP(MD)/2123/2020ordered

V.Lakshmanan v. The Managing Director

2020-02-04Honourable Mr Justice M.S. Ramesh3 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 04.02.2020

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.S.RAMESH W.P.(MD)No.2123 of 2020 V.Lakshmanan ... Petitioner /vs./ 1.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kum) Ltd., TNSTC Head Office, No.27, Railway Station New Road, Kumbakonam-612 001.

2.The Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Pension Fund Trust, Thiruvalluvar Illam, Pallavan Salai, Chennai-02.

... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, to direct the respondents to revise the petitioner's pay as per the settlement under Section 12

(3) of the I.D Act dated 04.01.2018 with retrospective effect from 01.09.2016 and consequently directing the respondents to revise and re-fix the petitioner's retirement benefits and to disburse difference amounts in the petitioner's monthly pension, commuted value of pension, gratuity, earned leave salary to me with interest at the rate of 18% per annum payable from 01.09.2016 to till the date of actual payment to be made by respondents, within the stipulated time to be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.SP.Vijaynivas For Respondents : Mr.P.Balasubramanian Standing Counsel for R1 Mr.A.Swaminathan for R2

ORDER

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

2. Though the petitioner has sought for issuance of writ of mandamus to direct the respondents to revise the petitioner's pay as per the settlement under Section 12(3) of the I.D Act dated 04.01.2018 with retrospective effect from 01.09.2016 and consequently directing the respondents to revise and re-fix the petitioner's retirement benefits and to disburse difference amounts

in the petitioner's monthly pension, commuted value of pension, gratuity and earned leave salary to him with interest at the rate of 18% per annum payable from 01.09.2016 to till the date of actual payment to be made by respondents, in my view, such a decision is to be taken by the respondents and in case, the petitioner is aggrieved against such any decision, it would be appropriate to approach this Court.

3. The petitioner would submit that he has already made representation on 20.11.2019 in this regard, which is said to be pending. If the said representation is directed to be disposed of within stipulated time, the ends of justice could be secured.

4. Whenever a representation is made to a statutory authority to redress the claim of the employee, there is a duty cast upon the respondents to consider the same on its own merit and pass appropriate orders in one way or other, instead of keeping the same pending indefinitely. Such an inaction would amount to dereliction of duties and thereby this Court would be justified in invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 226 of Constitution of India and thereby direct such authority to consider the representation within the stipulated time.

5. In view of the above observations, there shall be a direction to the respondents herein to consider the petitioner's representation dated 20.11.2019, in terms of settlement under Section 12(3) of the Industrial Dispute Act, on its own merits and pass appropriate orders within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any of its view with regard to the claim made by the petitioner in his representation and it is for the respondents to consider it in accordance with law.

5. With the above directions, this Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar () // True Copy // / /2020 Sub Assistant Registrar(CS) cp To

1. The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kum) Ltd., TNSTC Head Office, No.27, Railway Station New Road, Kumbakonam-612 001.

2. The Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Pension Fund Trust, Thiruvalluvar Illam, Pallavan Salai, Chennai-02.

+1 CC to Mr.SP.VIJAYNIVAS, Advocate ( SR-4569[F] dated 04/02/2020 ) +1 CC to Mr.P.BALASUBRAMANIAN, Advocate ( SR-4631[F] dated 04/02/2020 ) Order made in W.P.(MD)No.2123 of 2020 04.02.2020 VB(13.02.2020) 3P 5C