S.Muruganandam, v. The Management Of
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 07.12.2016
CORAM:
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R.SURESH KUMAR W.P(MD) No.23748 of 2016 S.Muruganandam ... Petitioner Vs.
1. The Management of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kumbakonam) Ltd., Trichy Region, Rep. by its General Manager, Trichy.
2. The Administrator Tamilnadu State Transport Employees Pension Fund Trust Thiruvalluvar Illam Annasalai, Chennai-2 ... Respondents Prayer:
Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to pay the petitioner Rs.9,34,876/- towards Gratuity and Rs.4,10,834/- towards Leave Salary together with 18% interest per annum along with interest amount towards the delay in paying EPF Employees Contribution amount Rs. 3,25,723/- for the period from 31.05.16 to 21.01.17 at the rate as per EPF scheme and further directing the respondents to pay him Rs.3,25,866/- towards the Pension Commutation together with 18% interest per annum within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Arunachalam For Respondents : Mr.D.Sivaraman Standing Counsel for TNSTC
ORDER
The prayer in the writ petition is for a Writ of Mandamus directing the 1st respondent to pay the petitioner Rs.9,34,876/- towards Gratuity and Rs.4,10,834/- towards Leave Salary together with 18% interest per annum along with interest amount towards the delay in paying EPF Employees Contribution amount Rs. 3,25,723/- for the period from 31.05.16 to 21.01.17 at the rate as per EPF scheme
and further directing the respondents to pay him Rs.3,25,866/- towards the Pension Commutation together with 18% interest per annum.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would contend that the prayer sought for in the writ petition can be considered by this Court as the issue has already been raised and decided by this Court in a batch of writ petitions and according to him, this writ petition is covered by the said decisions. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would rely upon the decision of this Court made in W.P.(MD).No.20945 of 2016 dated 01.11.2016 in the matter of J.Vincent Raj vs. the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli) Limited.
3. The learned Standing counsel appearing for the respondents would contend that the issue raised in the writ petition is covered by the said decision of this Court and in number of cases orders were issued, directing the respondents to settle the terminal benefits of the employees.
4. This Court has considered the submissions made by the respective learned counsel for the parties and perused the order dated 01.11.2016 made in W.P.(MD).No.20945 of 2016, wherein this Court has passed the following order:
"4. In these circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of with the following directions:- i) A direction is issued to the transport corporation to settle the terminal benefits of the petitioner that are yet to be settled, in twelve equal monthly installments; ii) The first installment shall commence by making payment on or before the First week of January, 2017 and the amount in each of the remaining instalments shall be paid on or before 10th of every succeeding month;
iii) The said terminal amount shall carry interest @ 6% per annum, as per the Division Bench judgment referred to above. In case of delay in making installments, the interest payable could be 18% for the delayed period;
(iv) The aforesaid direction to settle the terminal benefits would not preclude the workman to question the computation of any of the terminal benefits, if the same is paid lesser than the amount to which, he is entitled to receive. Likewise, if the petitioner has any grievance that he is entitled. No costs."
5. The learned Standing counsel appearing for the respondents would contend that the first installment as per clause (ii) of the aforesaid order shall commence in this case, only in the month of February 2017.
6. In view of the said submissions as well as the order cited supra, the same order is passed in this case also with the following directions:
i) A direction is issued to the Transport Corporation to settle the terminal benefits of the petitioner that are yet to be settled, in twelve equal monthly installments;
ii) The first installment shall commence by making payment on or before the First week of February, 2017 and the amount in each of the remaining installments shall be paid on or before 10th of every succeeding month;
iii) The said terminal amount shall carry interest @ 6% per annum, as per the Division Bench judgment referred to above. In case of delay in making installments, the interest payable could be 18% for the delayed period;
(iv) The aforesaid direction to settle the terminal benefits would not preclude the workman to question the computation of any of the terminal benefits, if the same is paid lesser than the amount to which, he is entitled to receive. Likewise, if the petitioner has any grievance that he is entitled.
7. With these directions, the writ petition is disposed of. No costs.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar (CO) /True Copy/ Sub Assistant Registrar To
1. The General Manager, Management of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Kumbakonam) Ltd., Trichy Region, Trichy.
2. The Administrator Tamilnadu State Transport Employees Pension Fund Trust Thiruvalluvar Illam Annasalai, Chennai.
+ 1 CC TO Mr.S.ARUNACHALAM, ADVOCATE IN SR No. 80204 + 1 CC TO Mr.D.SIVARAMAN, ADVOCATE IN SR No. 79770 RR TE/PV : 28/12/2016 : 3P/5C W.P(MD) No.23748 of 2016 07.12.2016