R.Settu v. The Managing Director,

ORDER Aggrieved by the belated payment of terminal benefits and pension benefits such as EPF Employee's contribution, Gratuity and Leave salary, P.F. and commutation of pension amount, the petitioners have come up with this writ petition seeking interest at the rate of 10% per annum, for the said delay caused on the part of the respondents.

¶2In view of the consent expressed by the learned counsel on either side, this writ petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself.

¶3When the matter is taken up for hearing, the learned counsel for the petitioners brought to the notice of this Court, the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in a similar matter in W.P.No.25610 of 2024 dated

03.09.2024, wherein this Court had directed the respondent to pay interest at the rate of 6% p.a. for the belated payment of terminal benefits to the petitioner therein within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

¶4Learned counsel appearing for the respondents did not dispute the above submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioners.

¶5This Court perused the order passed in W.P.No.25610 of 2024, wherein, this Court has held as under : "5.Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and the grievance expressed by the petitioner, there shall be a direction to the respondent to pay interest at the rate of 6% p.a. for the belated payment of terminal benefits to the petitioner within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. It is made clear that if the amount is not paid within the time frame fixed by this Court, it will fetch interest at the rate of 12% p.a. from the date on which the amount became due and payable till the date of actual realisation."

¶6The aforesaid decision is squarely applicable to the facts of the present case. Accordingly, applying the ratio laid down in the above case, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the 1st respondent to pay interest at the rate of 6% p.a. for the belated payment viz., Gratuity, Leave Salary, P.F. and commutation of pension amount to the petitioners, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. No costs.

18.02.2026 Index : Yes / No Speaking Order / Non-speaking order vsi2 To

¶1The Managing Director, (Villupuram )Ltd., No.3/137, Salamedu, Kandamanadi P.O. Villupuram 605 602.

2.The General Manager, (Villupuram) Ltd., Thiruvannamalai Region, Bye Pass Road, Vangikkal, Thiruvannamalai 606 604.

3.The Administrator, Employees Pension Trust, 2 Pallavan Salai Chennai 600 002.

M. DHANDAPANI, J. vsi2 W.P. No.

4770 of 2026

18.02.2026 (2/2)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 18.02.2026 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI W.P. No. 4770 of 2026 1. R.Settu 2. K.Anandan, 3. A.Elumalai, 4. P.Poonkodi, 5. V.Ulaganathan, 6. R.Srinivasan, 7. C.Prema, 8. S.Sambath, Petitioners Vs 1. The Managing Director, (Villupuram )Ltd., No.3/137, Salamedu, Kandamanadi P.O. Villupuram 605 602. 2.The General Manager, (Villupuram) Ltd., Thiruvannamalai Region, Bye Pass Road, Vangikkal, Thiruvannamalai 606 604. 3.The Administrator, Employees Pension Trust, 2 Pallavan Salai Chennai 600 002. Respondents Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to pay 10 percent interest for the belated payment of terminal benefits such as Gratuity, Leave Salary P.F.and commutation of pension amount to the petitioners. For Petitioners : Mr.S.T. Varadarajalu For Respondents : Ms. S. Pavithra for R1 & R2