The writ petitioner served as Driving Instructor at State Express Transport Corporation Ltd., Pallavan Salai, Chennai 600 002 and after completion of 31 years of service, retired from service on 31.07.2014, and the learned counsel for the writ petitioner states that till today, the terminal benefits are not disbursed to the writ petitioner without any valid reasons and that the writ petitioner was allowed to retire from service and his entitlement for terminal benefits are not paid till today.
2. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent / Corporation pleads that due to financial crunch they are unable to pay the terminal benefits due to his employees.
3. The terminal benefits are the right of an employee to lead his livelihood. An employee who was serving in the Corporation for more than three decades, is entitled for his livelihood. Life does not mean a mere animal life and it includes decent life as ensured under
Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
4. The terminal benefits are not bounty and it is a deferred portion of wages for the services rendered by an employee. Hence, non payment of terminal benefits to the employees without any valid reason, is no doubt, violation of right to Life enshrined under
Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The State being a modal employer, has to settle the benefits to its employees and immediately after their retirement and it is the duty mandated on the part of the State to settle the terminal benefits. Therefore, this Court is of the view that batch of writ petitions are filed before this Court seeking direction to pay terminal benefits and the attitude of the respondents driving these retired employees to approach this Court under
Article 226 of the Constitution of India, is deprecated.
5. In view of the above, this Court is inclined to follow earlier directions granted by this Court and by following the terms stated therein. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands disposed of and the respondents are directed to disburse the aforementioned retiral benefits to the petitioner herein, in twelve equal monthly instalments, in the light of the common judgment passed by this Court in W.A.(MD)Nos.383 to 457 of 2015 (K.Rajendran and others Vs. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Madurai Limited rep. by its Managing Director, Madurai and others) dated S.M.SUBRAMANIAM,J.
kak 12.06.2015. It is also made clear that the first instalment shall commence from 01.11.2017. There shall be no order as to costs.
13.09.2017 kak To The Managing Director, M/s.State Express Transport Corporation Ltd., Pallavan Salai, Chennai 600 002.
W.P. No.24588 of 2017