S.Murugesan v. The Managing Director
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 17.06.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR S.Murugesan ... Petitioner -vs1.The Managing Director Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation Madurai Region, Corporate Office Madurai-625 010 2.The Administrator The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Pension Fund Trust Thiruvalluvar House Pallavan Salai, Chennai-600 002 3.The State of Tamil Nadu rep.by Secretary to Government Finance (Pension) Department Secretariat, Fort St.George Chennai-600 009 ... Respondents PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents herein to revise the petitioner's wages with effect from 01.09.2023 based on the 15th tripartite wage settlement
dated 29.05.2025 and to pay arrears of wages payable from 01.09.2023 to 31.03.2026 and also difference in gratuity, provident fund, leave salary along with the interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 till the date of actual payment and subsequently direct the respondents to pay the interest at the rate of 18% per annum for the belated settlement of the petitioner's retirement benefits, namely, EPF employee's contribution, gratuity and leave salary for the period from 31.03.2025 to 11.03.2026 based on the petitioner's representation dated 01.04.2026 within the time limit that may be fixed by this Court. For Petitioner :
Mr.S.Sarvagan Prabhu For Respondents :
Mr.Gladson Michael Rajadurai Standing Counsel for R1 Mr.S.C.Herold Singh Standing Counsel for R2 Mr.M.Dinesh Hari Sudarsan Counsel for the Government for R3
O R D E R
Mr.Gladson Michael Rajadurai, learned Standing Counsel, takes notice for the first respondent; Mr.S.C.Herold Singh, learned Standing Counsel, takes notice for the second respondent and Mr.M.Dinesh Hari Sudarsan, learned counsel for the Government, takes notice for the third respondent.
2. With the consent of both sides, this writ petition is disposed of at the admission stage.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Standing Counsels and learned counsel for the Government appearing for the respective respondents.
4. This writ petition has been filed for a mandamus directing the respondents herein to revise the petitioner's wages with effect from 01.09.2023 based on the 15th tripartite wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 and to pay arrears of wages payable from 01.09.2023 to 31.03.2026 and also difference in gratuity, provident fund, leave salary along with the interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 till the date of actual payment of those benefits and to pay interest at the rate of 18% per annum for the belated payment of the petitioner's retirement benefits, namely, EPF employee's contribution, gratuity and leave salary for the period from 31.03.2025 to 11.03.2026 based on the representation dated 01.04.2026 said to have been submitted by the petitioner.
5. Today, when the matter is taken up for consideration, learned counsel on either side agree that the issue with regard to revision of wages based on the 15th wage settlement is squarely covered by an order passed by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.3191 of 2026, dated 05.02.2026, in an identical fact situation and the issue with regard to payment of interest for the belated payment of retirement benefits, the same is squarely covered by various Judgments passed by the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.(MD) No.403 of 2010 and batch, dated 17.06.2014 and W.A.(MD) No.1419 of 2021 and batch, dated 26.07.2021.
6. In the light of the consensus, this Court does not see any reason to adjudicate the case on hand on merits and is of the view that this writ petition can be disposed of in terms of the said order dated 05.02.2026, passed by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.3191 of 2026, wherein, the learned Single Judge has held as follows: "7.The petitioner's husband was in service as a permanent employee of the Transport Corporation as on 01.09.2023 and therefore, he is entitled for the benefits as per this 15th wage settlement. The petitioner's husband died, while he was in service on 27.12.2023 and he was paid with the retirement benefits as per the
earlier wage settlement. The 15th wage settlement provides revision of scale of pay by 6% on the basic pay, for those who were in service as on 01.09.2023, however monetary benefits with effect from 01.09.2024. Therefore, the petitioner's husband is entitled for the monetary benefits, pursuant to the revision of scale of pay from 01.09.2024 and the consequential retirement benefits.
8.Admittedly, such a revision has not been made till date. Any belated settlement of monetary benefits due to an employee needs to be settled with interest at the rate of 6% per annum. Therefore, this writ petition stands allowed with a direction to the respondent Transport Corporation to revise the pay scale of the petitioner's husband with effect from 01.09.2023 and provide the monetary benefits with effect from 01.09.2024, as per the 15th wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 and settle the benefits along with arrears to the petitioner within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, with interest @ 6% per annum. The interest shall be calculated for the period beyond Clause 37(b) of the settlement dated 29.05.2025 till the date of actual payment. There shall be no order as to costs."
7. In the light of the above, this writ petition is allowed directing the respondents to revise the pay scale of the petitioner with effect from
01.09.2023 and provide all the consequential monetary benefits with effect from 01.09.2024 as per the 15th Wage Settlement dated 29.05.2025 and settle all other benefits in terms of the said Settlement and pay arrears thereon to the petitioner and also to to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the belated payment of the petitioner's retirement benefits, namely, EPF employee's contribution, gratuity and leave salary, from the date of his retirement till the date on which those benefits are paid to the petitioner. The respondents are further directed to comply with the said directions as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of five months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs. 17.06.2026 (5/8) NCC :
Yes / No Index :
Yes / No Internet :
Yes / No krk To:
The Secretary to Government, Finance (Pension) Department, State of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J.
krk 17.06.2026 (5/8)