Allowed¶21

M.Thangaraja v. The Managing Director

Madras HC27 Mar 2026WP(MD)/8278/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Belated/non-timely payment of retirement terminal benefits - gratuity, provident fund, leave salary - statutory interest at 6% per annum; Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Thirunelveli) Limited employee; writ of mandamus under Article 226; disposed at admission stage relying on Division Bench W.A.(MD) No.403 of 2010 batch (27.03.2014) and W.A.(MD) No.1419 of 2021 batch (26.07.2021); compliance period twelve weeks; petitioner M.Thangaraja; Madurai Bench of Madras High Court.

What did the court decide?

Interest at the rate of 6% per annum on the belated payment of the petitioner's terminal benefits of gratuity, provident fund and leave salary, payable from the date of retirement till the date the terminal benefits are paid; compliance within twelve weeks of receipt of a copy of the order; no costs. ¶21

M.Thangaraja Vs The Managing Director — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶21

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent Transport Corporation is liable to pay interest at 6% per annum for the belated payment of the petitioner's terminal benefits (gratuity, provident fund and leave salary) from the date of retirement to the date of actual payment.

¶11

Court's answer

Since learned counsel on either side agreed that the issue is squarely covered by the Division Bench judgments in W.A.(MD) No.403 of 2010 and batch and W.A.(MD) No.1419 of 2021 and batch, the writ petition is allowed and the respondent is directed to pay interest at 6% per annum for the belated payment of the petitioner's terminal benefits.

¶21

Ratio / Principle

The respondent shall pay the interest on terminal benefits from the date of the petitioner's retirement till actual payment, and shall comply with the direction expeditiously and at any rate within twelve weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; no costs.

¶25

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (Madurai Bench), single judge (Mummineni Sudheer Kumar, J.), disposed of the writ petition at the admission stage with consent of both sides. Petitioner M.Thangaraja, a retiree of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Thirunelveli) Limited, sought a mandamus under Article 226 for interest on belated payment of his terminal benefits. Both counsel agreed the issue was squarely covered by Division Bench judgments in W.A.(MD) No.403 of 2010 and batch (dated 27.03.2014) and W.A.(MD) No.1419 of 2021 and batch (dated 26.07.2021). Petition allowed: respondent directed to pay 6% per annum interest on gratuity, provident fund and leave salary from the date of retirement until actual payment, within twelve weeks; no costs.

¶1

W.P.(MD) No.8278 of 2026

¶2

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

¶3

DATED : 27.03.2026

¶4

CORAM:

¶5

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR

¶6

W.P.(MD) No.8278 of 2026

M.Thangaraja

... Petitioner

-vs-

The Managing Director Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Thirunelveli) Limited 23/2, Kattaboman Nagar Thirunelveli-627 011 ... Respondent

¶11

PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent to to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum to petitioner for the belated payment of gratuity, provident fund and leave salary from the date of retirement to the date of actual payment within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.

¶12

For Petitioner : Ms.D.Ramya For Respondent : Mr.K.Ramaiah Standing Counsel

¶13

Page 1 of 4

¶14

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶15

O R D E R

¶16

W.P.(MD) No.8278 of 2026

¶17

Mr.K.Ramaiah, learned Standing Counsel, takes notice for the respondent – Transport Corporation.

¶18

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

¶19

3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent – Transport Corporation.

¶20

4. 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 27.03.2014 and W.A.(MD) No.1419 of 2021 and batch, dated 26.07.2021.

¶21

5. 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 of gratuity, provident

¶22

_____________ Page 2 of 4_

¶23

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶24

W.P.(MD) No.8278 of 2026

¶25

fund and leave salary, 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 twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

¶26

27.03.2026

¶27

NCC : Yes / No Index : Yes / No Internet : Yes / No

¶28

krk

¶29

_____________ Page 3 of 4_

¶30

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

¶31

W.P.(MD) No.8278 of 2026