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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 41328
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
Mummineni Sudheer Kumar, J
R.Veerubommaian – Appellant
Versus
The Secretary, Department of Water Resource – Respondent
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr.T.Thirumurugan
For the Respondents: Mr.N.Satheesh Kumar Additional Government Pleader
Settlement through mediation leads to disposal of writ petitions directing disbursement of terminal benefits to claimants in equal proportion.
Headnote:Paragraph 1: The petitioner filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of Mandamus to direct respondents to disburse service and pension benefits of her deceased son who died in service. The Court considered the dispute among claimants and the scope for mediation. Paragraph 2: The Court framed the issue of dividing the benefits fairly between claimants and settled the dispute amicably through mediation. The ratio decidendi holds that amicable settlement between parties facilitates efficient resolution of administrative disputes over terminal benefits. Paragraph 3: The result was disposal of the writ petition directing 50 percent disbursement to each claimant within two months.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. terminal benefits cannot be disbursed until family dispute is settled (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. mediation aids in amicable division of terminal benefits (Para 3 , 4 , 5) |
| 3. court orders equal disbursement after mediation settlement (Para 6) |
ORDER
This writ petition is filed by the mother of the deceased Government servant by name,V.Udaiyali,seeking a writ of mandamus to direct the respondents 1 to 3 to disburse the service and terminal benefits of her deceased son, who died on 13.05.2020 with interest by considering the representation dated 10.11.2025 submitted by the petitioner.
2. The terminal benefits of the deceased son of the petitioner could not be disbursed in the light of the dispute between the petitioner and the fourth respondent, who is the widow of deceased son of the petitioner.
3.When this matter came up for consideration before this Court on 07.04.2026, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the fourth respondent made a joint request for referring the dispute to the Mediation Centre as there was a scope for an amicable settlement.
4. Accordingly, the matter was placed before the Mediation Centre and the same was settled between the parties and accordingly, the matter is listed before this Court along with the report of the Mediation Centre.
5. A perusal of the said report indicates that the petitioner and fourth respondent have volunntarily agreed to receive 50% of the retirement and terminal benefits of deceased Government servant, namely, V.Udaiyali as there was settlement of their disputes. The joint settlement agreement dated 27.04.2026 is also placed before this Court.
6.In the light of the above, this Court is of the considered view that this writ petition can be disposed of in terms of the settlement arrived at between the parties. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of directing the respondents 1 to 3 to disburse the retirement benefits of the deceased son of the petitioner/the husband of the fourth respondent, at the rate of 50% each to the petitioner and fourth respondent as expeditiously as possible, at any rate ,within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of. No costs.
