High Court · 2025

WP(MD)No.35275 of 2025BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURTDATED : 16.12.2025 CORAM:THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHIWP(MD)No.35275 of 2025 M.Ayyappan ...PetitionerVs1.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Madurai Region, Corporate Office, Madurai – 625 010.2.The Administrator, The Tamil Nadu State Transport CorporationPension Fund Trust, Thiruvalluvar House, Pallavan Salai, Chennai – 600 002.3.The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by Secretary to Government, Finance (Pension) Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009. ...RespondentsPrayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of mandamus directing the Respondents herein to revise the petitioner's wages with effect from 01.09.2023 based on the 15th tripartite wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 and to pay arrears of 1/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35275 of 2025wages payable from 01.09.2023 to 29.02.2024 and also difference in Gratuity, Provident Fund, Leave Salary and arrears of pension from 01.03.2024 to 31.07.2025 along with the interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 till the date of actual payment and subsequently direct the respondents to pay the interest at the rate of 18% per annum for the belated settlement of petitioner's retirement benefits namely EPF Employee's Contribution, Gratuity, and leave salary for the period from 29.02.2024 to 25.08.2025 based on petitioner's representation dated 23.10.2025 within the time limit that may be fixed by this Court.For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sarvagan PrabhuFor Respondent : Mr.Gladson Michal RajaduraiNo.1For Respondent :Mr.S.C.Herold SinghNo.2For Respondent : Mr.C.Venkatesh Kumar,No.3Special Government PleaderORDERThe petitioner was working as a Special Grade Conductor in the respondent transport corporation. He retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation on 29.02.2024. The retirement benefits due to him were settled by the respondent on 25.08.2025. However, after his retirement, the 15th tripartite wage settlement under Section 12(3) of the 2/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35275 of 2025Industrial Disputes Act was entered into between the Management and Trade Unions on 29.05.2025. As per Clause 1 of the terms of settlement, the Management has agreed to revise the wages of the employees who were in service as on 01.09.2023 by revising the pay by 6% of the earlier wages.2.The period covered under this settlement is from 01.09.2023 to 31.08.2027 and therefore, the petitioner, who was in service as on 01.09.2023 and retired from service on 29.02.2024, made a representation to the respondents seeking the benefits due to him as per the 15th wage settlement. Alleging inaction, he has filed this writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the respondents to revise his wages with effect from 01.09.2023, based on the 15th wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 and to pay the arrears of wages payable from 01.09.2023 till his date of retirement, difference in leave salary, gratuity, provident fund and arrears of pension from 01.03.2024 to 25.08.2025 with interest.3.Learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner, who was in service as on 01.09.2023 is also entitled for the benefits as 3/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35275 of 2025per the 15th wage settlement dated 29.05.2025. He is entitled for this enhanced wages of 6% with effect from 01.09.2023 till the date of his retirement and since the basic pay has been enhanced by 6%, the other retirement benefits also needs to be revised in accordance with 15th wage settlement. According to him, the revised pay and the other benefits have not been settled to the petitioner, despite his representation and therefore, the petitioner is constrained to file this writ petition.4.Mr.S.C.Herold Singh, learned Standing Counsel takes notice for the respondents and submitted that as per the settlement u/s.12(3) of the Act dated 29.05.2025, the Management is expected to calculate the arrears of amount and can pay the amount on four quarterly installments. According to him, they would calculate the difference of pay, if any, due to the petitioner and it would be paid within a reasonable time.5.This Court paid it's anxious consideration to the rival submissions made on either side and perused the materials placed on record.4/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35275 of 20256.The 15th wage settlement under Section 12(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act was entered into between the Management and the Unions on 29.05.2025. As per Clause 1 of the terms of the settlement, the Management has agreed to revise the wages of the employees, who were in service as on 01.09.2023, by revising the pay by 6% of the earlier wages.7.The petitioner was in service as a permanent employee of the Transport Corporation as on 01.09.2023 and therefore, he is entitled for the benefits as per this 15th wage settlement. The petitioner has retired from service on 29.02.2024 and he was paid with the retirement benefits as per the earlier pay scale. Since there is a revision of scale of pay by 6% on the basic pay, the petitioner is entitled for this differential pay scale from 01.09.2023 till the date of his retirement and the consequential retirement benefits as per the revised scale of pay.8.Clause 37(b) of this settlement dated 29.05.2025 enables the Management to pay the arrears of scale of pay from 01.09.2023 on four 5/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35275 of 2025quarterly installments. This period is already over. For any delayed payment of retirement benefits, the employees are entitled for interest @ 6% per annum. Therefore, the arrears of salary and the differential retirement benefits due to the petitioner shall be paid together with 6% interest for the period beyond Clause 37(b) of the settlement dated 29.05.2025 till the realization.9.Accordingly, this writ petition stands allowed with a direction to the respondent Transport Corporation to settle the difference of pay based on the revised scale of pay as per the 15th wage settlement dated 29.05.2025, together with the revised retirement benefits to the petitioner within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, with interest @ 6% per annum. The interest shall be calculated for the period beyond Clause 37(b) of the settlement dated 29.05.2025 till the date of actual payment. There shall be no order as to costs.16.12.2025 DSK6/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35275 of 2025To1.The Managing Director, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Madurai Region, Corporate Office, Madurai – 625 010.2.The Administrator, The Tamil Nadu State Transport CorporationPension Fund Trust, Thiruvalluvar House, Pallavan Salai, Chennai – 600 002.3.The Secretary to Government, Finance (Pension) Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai – 600 009.7/8 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis WP(MD)No.35275 of 2025B.PUGALENDHI.J.,DSKWP(MD)No.35275 of 2025 16.12.20258/8