Issue GO for Rs 175 crore dues to retired transport staff: Madras High court
AG further said as Minister for Transport Department, is not in station, the government order could not be issued immediately.
Chennai: The Madras High court directed the state to settle the remaining dues of Rs 175 crore to the retired employees of State Transport Undertakings by Tuesday. When the matter came up for hearing before division bench comprising Justices S. Manikumar and R. Sureshkumar, Advocate General N. Vijay Narayan submitted that despite facing heavy financial crisis the government has taken action to release a ‘Ways and Means Advance’ of Rs 175 crore towards settlement of remaining statutory dues to the retired employees of STUs. Necessary government order would be issued shortly.
He said, as ordered earlier, Rs 379 crores, ought to have been sanctioned and disbursed by December 15, 2017, as the second installment towards arrears to them. However, a sum of Rs 175 crore alone was sanctioned due to the above reason. AG further said as Minister for Transport Department, is not in station, the government order could not be issued immediately.
However, he assured that the GO would be issued forthwith, enabling disbursement of Rs 175 crore towards settlement of the remaining statutory dues to the retired employees of the Transport Corporation undertakings, by December 26. Recording the submission, the bench noted that the deficit as on December 15 would be Rs 204 crore. Vijay Narayan assured the bench that he would get appropriate instructions for the payment of third installment which falls on January 15, 2018.