S LOGANATHAN Vs. TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Mr. Bharath Chakravarthy, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner; Mr. N. Jothi, learned counsel appearing for respondents 1 and 2 and Ms. D. Geetha, learned counsel appearing for the 3rd respondent.

(2.) CHALLENGING the order dated 17. 11. 2004 passed by the 1st respondent, seeking to quash the same and for a consequential direction to the respondents to pay interest on the belated payment of pension, commuted value of pension, DCRG and encashment of leave (EL and UEL) on retirement at the rate of 24% per annum from the date on which the amounts became due till date of disbursement with further interest on the interest amount due till the date of disbursement to him, the petitioner has come up with the present writ petition.

(3.) LEARNED counsel for the petitioner strenuously contended that the petitioner had sent his pension proposals in time and there is no delay on his part, and it is the respondents who had caused the delay in disbursing the pensionary and retirement benefits to the petitioner. He further submitted that pension and gratuity are no longer any bounty to be distributed by the Government to its employees and it is the valuable rights and property in their hands and any culpable delay in settlement and disbursement thereof, must be visited with the penalty of payment of interest at the current market rate till the date of actual payment.