The Court upheld the right to timely payment of benefits following wage settlements, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to specified terms and conditions outlined in such agreements.

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MUMMINENI SUDHEER KUMAR R.Ravi ... Petitioner -vs-

The Management of Tamilnadu State Transport Corporation (Kumbakonam) Ltd., Karur Region rep.by its General Manager Karur ... Respondent PRAYER: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent to revise / re-fix the scale of pay of the petitioner w.e.f. 01.09.2023 to till his retirement, based on the wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 and consequently to pay him difference / arrears of terminal benefits namely, gratuity and encashment of leave, after revising the same based on such re-fixed scale of pay payable to him on the month of his retirement, together with 18% interest per annum, within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Arunachalam For Respondent : Mr.S.C.Herold Singh Standing Counsel

O R D E R

Mr.S.C.Herold Singh, learned Standing Counsel, takes notice for the respondent – Transport Corporation.

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

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

4. This writ petition has been filed for a mandamus directing the respondent to revise / re-fix the scale of pay of the petitioner with effect from 01.09.2023 till his retirement, based on the wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 and consequently to pay him difference / arrears of terminal benefits, namely, gratuity and encashment of leave, after revising the same based on such re-

fixed scale of pay payable to him on the month of his retirement, together with

18% interest per annum, within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.

5. Today, when the matter is taken up for consideration, learned counsel on either side agree that the issue that arises for consideration in this writ petition is squarely covered by an order passed by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.3191 of 2026, dated 05.02.2026, in an identical fact situation and a copy of the said order is also placed before this Court.

6. In the light of the consensus, this Court does not see any reason to adjudicate the case on hand on merits and is of the view that this writ petition can be disposed of in terms of the said order dated 05.02.2026, passed by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.3191 of 2026, wherein, the learned Single Judge has held as follows:

“7.The petitioner’s husband 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’s husband died, while he was in service on 27.12.2023 and he was paid with the retirement benefits as per the earlier wage settlement. The 15th wage settlement provides revision of scale of pay by 6% on the basic pay, for those who were in service as on 01.09.2023, however monetary benefits with effect from 01.09.2024. Therefore, the petitioner’s husband is entitled for the monetary benefits, pursuant to the revision of scale of pay from 01.09.2024 and the consequential retirement benefits.

8.Admittedly, such a revision has not been made till date. Any belated settlement of monetary benefits due to an employee needs to be settled with interest at the rate of 6% per annum. Therefore, this writ petition stands allowed with a direction to the respondent Transport Corporation to revise the pay scale of the petitioner’s husband with effect from 01.09.2023 and provide the monetary benefits with effect from 01.09.2024, as per the 15th wage settlement dated 29.05.2025 and settle the benefits along with arrears to the petitioner within a period of six months from