Mr. P.Kannan Kumar, learned Standing Counsel, accepts notice for the respondents. With consent, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.
2 This writ petition has been filed seeking a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent herein to settle all retirement benefits to the petitioner with interest and to pay interest for the delayed payments made to the petitioner in respect of gratuity, leave surrender, etc. 3 The petitioner joined the service of the respondent-Transport Corporation as Conductor and he retired as such on 31.12.2013 on attaining the age of superannuation. However, he was not paid with the aforesaid benefits. Ergo, the petitioner has addressed a representation dated 20.02.2017 to the first respondent, but, to no avail. Hence, he has preferred this writ petition for the relief, as aforestated.
4 In W.A.No.(MD)Nos.383 to 457 of 2015, [K.Rajendran and others Vs. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, represented by its Managing Director, Madurai-10 and 3 others], involving similar set of facts, as obtaining in this case, a Division Bench of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, by order dated 12.06.2015, has directed payment of terminal benefits in 12 equal monthly instalments with interest at the rate of 6% p.a. The relevant portion of the said order reads thus: The learned Additional Advocate General submits that he has obtained written instructions vide letter No.7945/B/2015-2 dated 11/06/2015 that the terminal benefits of the appellants would be settled through twelve equal monthly installments, carrying interest of 6% p.a.
2. The said statement is thus taken on record and the respondents will be bound by the same. We have to keep in mind the judicial pronouncement of the Honourable Supreme Court in D.D.Tewari (D) Thr. Lrs. Vs. Utta Haryana Bujli Vitran Nigam Limited & Ors [2014 (e) scale -78] wherein it is held that in case of any delay in making the payment of the installments, the interest payable would become 18% p.a., for the delayed period apart from any other remedy which may be available to the appellants for non-compliance of undertaking given to this Court.
3. The instalments to be paid from July 2015 and each instalments should be paid on or before 7th of each month.
4. The Writ Appeals are disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
5. Following the same, the first respondent is directed to disburse the petitioner's retirement benefits, if any, on the basis of his representation dated 20.02.2017, in twelve equal monthly instalments and the first instalment shall commence from the first week of May 2017.
The writ petition stands disposed of with the above direction. Costs made easy.
13.03.2017 gsk/cad T. RAJA, J.
gsk/cad To
1. The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd, Coimbatore Division I No.37, Mettupalayam Road, Coimbatore.
2. The General Manager, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd, Coimbatore Division I Chennimalai, Erode W.P. No. 6076 of 2017 13.03.2017 http://www.judis.nic.in