← Library
Madras High CourtCONT P(MD)/1836/2025closed

C.Vimala Sakthirajan v. Dasarathan

2025-09-19Honourable Mr Justice B.Pugalendhi8 pages

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT Dated : 19.09.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI in W.P.(MD)No.17220 of 2021 C.Vimala Sakthirajan ... Petitioner versus

1. Mr.Dasarathan, The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Tirunelveli Ltd - 2,

2. Mrs.Merlin Jayanthi, General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tirunelveli Ltd., Ranithottam, Nagercoil - 629 001, Kanyakumari District.

3. Mrs.Bhama, Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Trust, 1/8

Thiruvallur House, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

4. Mr.S.Natarajan, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tirunelveli Ltd.,

5. Mr.P.Balasubramanian, General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tirunelveli Ltd., Ranithottam, Nagercoil - 629 001, Kanyakumari District.

(R4 and R5 are suo motu impleaded as per order dated 12.09.2025 in Cont.P.(MD)No.1836 of 2025) ... Respondents Contempt Petitions filed under Section 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act 1971, to punish the Contemners/Respondents herein for their willful disobedience of the order dated 02.01.2025 passed by this Court in W.P. (MD)No.17220 of 2021 For Petitioner : Mr.N.S.Ramakrishna Dass For R1 and R2 : Mr.R.Bakaran, Additional Advocate General, assisted by Mr.D.Jebaraj 2/8

For R3 : Mr.S.C.Herold Singh

ORDER

This Contempt Petition has been filed complaining that the order of this Court passed in W.P.(MD)No.17220 of 2021 dated 02.01.2025 has not been complied with.

2. The petitioner's husband had worked as a Chief Accounts Officer in the Transport Corporation. The petitioner, with a grievance that the retirement benefits due to her husband has not been settled to her, filed a writ petition before this Court in W.P.(MD)No.17220 of 2021, seeking a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to the settle terminal benefits due to her husband together with interest at the rate of 12% from the date of retirement.

3. This Court, by order dated 02.01.2025, disposed of the writ petition with a direction to the respondents to settle the terminal benefits due to the petitioner's husband within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. The respondents have not complied 3/8

with the order passed by this Court in W.P.(MD)No.17220 of 2021, dated 02.01.2025. Therefore, this Contempt Petition has been filed.

4. Even after taking notice in the contempt petition, the respondents have not bothered to comply with the said order. Therefore, this Court, by order dated 05.08.2025, directed to issue statutory notice to the respondents. In fact, the officials of the Transport Corporation have refused to receive the statutory notice issued by this Court and also returned the same with an endorsement that the concerned Contemnors mentioned in the statutory notice have already been transferred. Therefore, this Court, by its order dated 12.09.2025, suo motu impleaded the present Managing Director and General Manager of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tirunelveli Division as respondents 4 and 5 in the contempt petition.

5. Today, the respondents 4 and 5 are present before this Court. The respondents 4 and 5 have now decided to settle the terminal benefits by issuing three cheques as under:

(i) Cheque No.001659, dated 11.09.2025, for a sum of 4/8

Rs.2,03,738/-, Indian Overseas Bank, Tirunelveli Junction Branch. (ii) Cheque No.724922, dated 18.09.2025, for a sum of Rs.2,05,205/-, Indian Overseas Bank, Tirunelveli Junction Branch. (iii) Cheque No.714966, dated 18.09.2025, for a sum of Rs.3,50,000/-, Indian Overseas Bank, Tirunelveli Junction Branch.

6. It is very unfortunate that the terminal benefits due to the employee are disbursed in such a manner driving the employee to file a writ petition and contempt petition and then only, they are settling the amount to the employee. This attitude of the Officers are condemned and it needs to be changed.

7. It is reported that they are yet to disburse the pension amount. The learned counsel appearing for the 3rd respondent/Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Trust submits that as and when the pension proposal is received from the Managing Director of the Transport Corporation, necessary orders would be passed without any delay.

5/8

8. The 4th respondent/the Managing Director, who is present before this Court, submits that the pension proposal has already been sent.

9. Since it is reported that the pension proposal has already been sent, the 3rd respondent shall ensure that the pension amount along with arrears is settled to the petitioner on or before 05.11.2025.

10. Accordingly, this Contempt Petition is closed. 19.09.2025 ogy NCC : Yes / No.

Index : Yes . No.

Internet: Yes / No.

To

1. Mr.Dasarathan, The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Tirunelveli Ltd - 2, 6/8

2. Mrs.Merlin Jayanthi, General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tirunelveli Ltd., Ranithottam, Nagercoil - 629 001, Kanyakumari District.

3. Mrs.Bhama, Administrator, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Pension Trust, Thiruvallur House, Pallavan Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

4. Mr.S.Natarajan, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tirunelveli Ltd.,

5. Mr.P.Balasubramanian, General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Tirunelveli Ltd., Ranithottam, Nagercoil - 629 001, Kanyakumari District.

7/8

B.PUGALENDHI, J.

ogy 19.09.2025 8/8