M.Saleem Vs The State Express Transport Corporation… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

M.Saleem Vs The State Express Transport Corporation… — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition allowed; respondent directed to pay interest at 6% per annum on the belated payment of the petitioner's terminal benefits from the date of retirement till the date of payment, with compliance within five months; no order as to costs.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent Corporation is liable to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the delayed disbursement of the petitioner's terminal benefits (including Provident Fund, Gratuity and Terminal Leave Salary) from the date of retirement till actual disbursement.

Court's answer

Proceeding on the unanimous agreement of learned counsel on either side that the issue involved was squarely covered by earlier Division Bench judgments of this Court, the writ petition was allowed on that basis.

Ratio / Principle

The respondent is directed to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the belated payment of the petitioner's terminal benefits, including EPF Employee's Contribution, Gratuity, Encashment of Earned/Sick Leave and other monetary benefits, from the date of his retirement till the date on which the terminal benefits are paid.

Key takeaways

The respondent is further directed to comply with the said direction as expeditiously as possible and, at any rate, within a period of five months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (W.P.(MD)No.19130 of 2026, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, decided 08.07.2026, Mummineni Sudheer Kumar, J.) — M.Saleem sought a writ of mandamus directing The State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd to pay interest at 6% per annum on the delayed disbursement of his terminal benefits (Provident Fund, Gratuity and Terminal Leave Salary) from retirement till actual disbursement. With the consent of both sides the petition was disposed of at the admission stage, the Court proceeding on unanimous counsel agreement that the issue was squarely covered by Division Bench decisions in W.A.(MD) No.403 of 2010 and batch (dated 07.04.2014) and W.A.(MD) No.1419 of 2021 and batch (dated 26.07.2021). Petition allowed: respondent to pay 6% per annum interest for belated payment of terminal benefits, including EPF Employee's Contribution, Gratuity, Encashment of Earned/Sick Leave and other monetary benefits, from the date of retirement till payment, compliance within five months; no order as to costs.

W.P.(MD)No.19130 of 2026

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 08.07.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR

W.P.(MD)No.19130 of 2026

M.Saleem

... Petitioner

vs.

The State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd, Represented by its Managing Director, Pallavan Salai, Chennai 600 002.

... Respondent

PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the delayed disbursement of the petitioner's terminal benefits including Provident Fund, Gratuity and Terminal Leave Salary for the period from the date of his retirement till the date of actual disbursement and consequently direct the respondent to settle the same to him within the time frame fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.A.Rahul For Respondent : Mr.K.Senthil Kumar

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W.P.(MD)No.19130 of 2026

O R D E R

Heard Mr.A.Rahul learned Counsel for the Petitioner and Mr.K.Senthil Kumar, learned Counsel, who takes notice for the Respondent.

This Writ Petition has been filed for issuance of Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the delayed disbursement of the petitioner's terminal benefits including Provident Fund, Gratuity and Terminal Leave Salary for the period from the date of his retirement till the date of actual disbursement and consequently settle the same to the petitioner.

With the consent of both sides, this writ petition is disposed of at the admission stage.

Learned counsel on either side unanimously agree that the issue involved in this writ petition is squarely covered by various Judgments passed by the Division Bench of this Court in W.A.(MD) No.403 of 2010 and batch, dated 07.04.2014 and W.A.(MD) No.1419 of 2021 and batch, dated 26.07.2021.

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W.P.(MD)No.19130 of 2026

In the said circumstances, this writ petition is allowed and the respondent is directed to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum for the belated payment of the petitioner's terminal benefits, including EPF Employee's Contribution, Gratuity Encashment of Earned/Sick Leave and other monetary benefits from the date of his retirement till the date on which the terminal benefits are paid to the petitioner. The respondent is further directed to comply with the said direction as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of five months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs.

08.07.2026 Index :Yes / No Internet :Yes / No NCC :Yes / No Nsr

To:

The Managing Director, The State Express Transport Corporation (Tamil Nadu) Ltd, Pallavan Salai, Chennai 600 002.

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W.P.(MD)No.19130 of 2026

MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR, J.

Nsr

Order made in W.P.(MD)No.19130 of 2026

08.07.2026

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