Timely disbursal of retirement benefits is essential, and withholding of dues without valid justification is impermissible.

JUDGMENT

Dated this the 9^th day of March, 2026 The petitioner states that he retired from service as Conductor Grade II of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation on 31.05.2024. He was granted pension. Other retirement benefits, including the DCRG, Provident Fund amount dues and Leave Surrender benefits have not been sanctioned and disbursed yet. Due to the inordinate delay on the part of the respondents in disbursing the retirement benefits, the petitioner is undergoing severe hardships and mental agony.

2. Standing Counsel entered appearance on behalf of the KSRTC and resisted the writ petition. The Standing Counsel denied all the allegations made by the petitioner in the writ petition. It is submitted that the KSRTC is facing acute financial crisis and is struggling to honour the terminal benefits of the retired employees, in time. The KSRTC is taking all steps to raise funds in order to give the terminal benefits due in respect of superannuated employees. The petitioner will be paid his dues in due course of time.

4. I have heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader representing respondents 1 and 6 and the learned Standing Counsel representing respondents 2 to 5.

5. It is to be noted that the petitioner has served the KSRTC for long years and has retired from service on 31.05.2024. The terminal benefits payable to the petitioner includes Provident Fund dues. The Provident Fund dues are the deposits of the petitioner and that cannot be withheld under any circumstances. Similarly, as the petitioner has admittedly served the KSRTC, the DCRG, Leave Surrender, Gratuity etc., cannot be withheld indefinitely.

The writ petition is hence disposed of directing the respondents to pay to the petitioner the Provident Fund amount payable along with statutory interest till the date of payment, within a period of three months. There will be a further direction to the respondents to pay the entire DCRG and other terminal benefits to the petitioner within a further period of three months.

Sd/-