High Court · 2025

W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRASDATED : 03.12.2025CORAMTHE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANIW.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025 P.Murugaiyan... Petitioner in W.P.46682/2025N.Kamalanathan... Petitioner in W.P.46684/2025K.Munusamy... Petitioner in W.P.46688/2025S.Ramalingam ... Petitioner in W.P.46789/2025S.Subramanian @ S.Soubramaniane ... Petitioner in W.P.46791/2025 Vs.1.The District Collector, I – Floor, New Collectorate Building, Vazhudavoor Road, Pettaiyanchathiram, Puducherry – 605 009.2.The Chairman PRTC/ Secretary (Transport), Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Puducherry – 605 001.3.The Managing Director, Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Raja Nagar, Puducherry – 605 013. ... Respondents Prayer in W.P.No.46682 of 2025:Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and 1/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025pay me the applicable interest amount of Rs.3,44,900/-calculated at 10% on Rs.9,32,790/- from 31.07.2022 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 27.03.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court.Prayer in W.P.No.46684 of 2025:Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay me the applicable interest amount of Rs.2,02,821/-calculated at 10% on Rs.6,29,010/- from 31.01.2023 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 30.04.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court.Prayer in W.P.No.46688 of 2025:Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay me the applicable interest amount of Rs.3,34,795/-calculated at 10% on Rs.8,37,930/- from 30.04.2022 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 24.03.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court.2/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025Prayer in W.P.No.46789 of 2025:Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay me the applicable interest amount of Rs.2,51,382/-calculated at 10% on Rs.5,42,250/- from 30.11.2021 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 24.03.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court.Prayer in W.P.No.46791 of 2025:Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay me the applicable interest amount of Rs.2,92,835/-calculated at 10% on Rs.5,56,610/- from 31.05.2021 to 28.02.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 01.03.2023 to 10.02.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court. For Petitioners : Mr.S.Lakshmi NarayananFor Respondents : Ms.Sharadha Vivek for R1 Additional Government Pleader (Pondy) Mr.R.Sreedhar for R2, R3 Standing Counsel 3/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025C O M M O N O R D E RW.P.No.46682 of 2025 has been paid seeking issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay the petitioner, the applicable interest amount of Rs.3,44,900/-calculated at 10% on Rs.9,32,790/- from 31.07.2022 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 27.03.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.2.W.P.No.46684 of 2025 has been paid seeking issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay the petitioner, the applicable interest amount of Rs.2,02,821/-calculated at 10% on Rs.6,29,010/- from 31.01.2023 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 30.04.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.3.W.P.No.46688 of 2025 has been paid seeking issuance of Writ 4/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay the petitioner, the applicable interest amount of Rs.3,34,795/-calculated at 10% on Rs.8,37,930/- from 30.04.2022 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 24.03.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.4.W.P.No.46789 of 2025 has been paid seeking issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay the petitioner, the applicable interest amount of Rs.2,51,382/-calculated at 10% on Rs.5,42,250/- from 30.11.2021 to 10.10.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 11.10.2023 to 24.03.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.5.W.P.No.46791 of 2025 has been paid seeking issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent to recover and pay the petitioner, the applicable interest amount of Rs.2,92,835/-calculated at 5/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 202510% on Rs.5,56,610/- from 31.05.2021 to 28.02.2023 and compound interest @ 15% from 01.03.2023 to 10.02.2025 from the third respondent as in accordance with the order passed by the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry within the time frame that may be stipulated by this Court.6.It is the case of the petitioners that after their retirement, the respondents 2 and 3 failed to pay the gratuity amount and hence they made representation to the respondents 2 and 3 for settlement of gratuity amount and since there was no response, they made application under Section 7(4) of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 before the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry and the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry, after conducting enquiry, passed an order directing the third respondent to pay the gratuity amount along with simple interest @ 10% interest from the date of the petitioners retirement till the date of payment, however, the third respondent did not comply with the said order and thereafter, the Controlling Authority - cum - Labour Officer (Enforcement), Puducherry, issued certificate under Section 8 of the Payment of Gratuity Act, specifying 6/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025interest at 10% per annum for the period from the date of the petitioners retirement till the date of his order and for the subsequent date compound interest at 15% per annum and issued letter to the first respondent directing them for recovery of the above payment under Section 8 of the Payment of Gratuity Act. Thereafter, the third respondent paid the principal amount, however, did not pay the interest. In this regard, the petitioners made representation to the respondents, however, there is no response. Hence, the petitioners are before this Court. 7.Heard the arguments advanced on either side and perused the materials available on record.8.In view of the limited request made by the petitioners with regard to interest on the belated payment of terminal benefits, this Court directs the respondents to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the belated payment of terminal benefits from the date of retirement till the date of actual disbursal of terminal benefits of the petitioners, within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. 7/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 20259.Accordingly, the writ petitions are disposed of. No costs. 03.12.2025priIndex: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ NoTo1.The District Collector, I – Floor, New Collectorate Building, Vazhudavoor Road, Pettaiyanchathiram, Puducherry – 605 009.2.The Chairman PRTC/ Secretary (Transport), Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Puducherry – 605 001.3.The Managing Director, Puducherry Road Transport Corporation Ltd., Raja Nagar, Puducherry – 605 013.8/9 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 2025M.DHANDAPANI,J. priW.P.Nos.46682, 46684, 46688, 46789 and 46791 of 202503.12.20259/9