The petitioners in W.P.Nos.1001 to 1003 & 1005 to 1007, having retired from service as Selection Grade Senior Conductor/Selection Grade Assistant/Selection Grade Driver/Foreman in the respondent Corporation on 30.4.2016, 31.5.2012, 31.7.2011, 31.5.2014, 31.10.2016, 31.5.2016 respectively, have filed these writ petitions seeking a direction to the respondents to settle the retirement benefits payable to them, as prayed for in the petitions, with interest at 18% per annum. Similarly, the petitioner in W.P.No.1004 of 2017 has also filed the said writ petition for a similar relief on the ground that her husband Mr.P.Rangasamy, having retired from service on 30.09.2014 as Selection Grade Assistant, died on 31.10.2015. Hence she has prayed for a direction to the respondents to settle the retirement benefits payable to her husband, as prayed for in the writ petition, with interest at 18% per annum.
2. Mr.R.K.Gandhi, learned standing counsel for the Transport Corporation submitted that since there has been a direction issued by the Hon'ble Division Bench in W.A.(MD) Nos.383 to 457 of 2015 dated 12.6.2015 directing the Corporation to disburse all the retirement benefits in twelve equal monthly instalments with 6% interest per annum, a similar direction may be issued in these writ petitions also.
3. This Court, recording the statement made by the learned standing counsel for the respondents, taking note of the Hon'ble Division Bench judgment in W.A.(MD) Nos.383 to 457 of 2015 dated 12.6.2015 (K.Rajendran and others v. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai) Limited represented by its Managing Director, Madurai and others) directing the respondents to settle all the retirement benefits in twelve equal monthly instalments with 6% interest per annum, hereby directs the respondents to settle the entire retirement benefits due and payable to the petitioners in W.P.Nos.1001 to 1003 & 1005 to 1007 of 2017 and due and payable to the husband of the petitioner in W.P.No.1004 of 2017 through twelve equal monthly instalments carrying interest of 6% p.a. The instalments should commence from July, 2017 and each of the instalments should be paid on or before 7th of each month. In case of any delay in the payment of the instalments, the interest payable would become 18% p.a. for the delayed period apart from any other remedy which may be available to the petitioners for such non-payment of the instalments. With this direction, the writ petitions are disposed of accordingly. No costs.