The petitioner's husband was the employee of the respondent Corporation and he died on 22.09.2015 while in service.
2.His wife/petitioner herein has filed this writ petition seeking for a direction to the respondents to pay the retirement benefits payable to her husband.
3.The First Bench of this Court in similar matter has passed an order dated 12.06.2015 in W.A.(MD) Nos.383 to 457 of 2015, issuing direction to the transport Corporations to settle the terminal benefits of its employees in equal monthly instalments and to pay 6% interest on the terminal benefits payable to the workman. The Bench has also held that workman is entitled to 18% interest for the defaulted period of instalment.
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 instalments;
ii)The first instalment shall commence by making payment on or before the 10th May 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 instalments, the interest payable could be 18% for the delayed period;
iv) The aforesaid direction to settle the terminal benefits would not preclude the petitioner to question the computation of any of the terminal benefits, if the same is paid lesser than the amount to which, her husband is entitled to receive. Likewise, if the petitioner has any grievance that her husband is entitled to interest for the amount already settled, she can agitate the same as per law, if her husband is entitled. No costs.
To
1)The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Tirunelveli) Ltd., Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli District.
2)The General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd., Tirunelveli Region, Tirunelveli District..