Madras high court: Pay interest to retired TNSTC staff by April 14

Chennai: The Madras high court directed the managing directors of 8 state transport corporations to disburse the balance interest portions of '394.69 crore to the contempt petitioners (retired employees) before April 14, 2018.

Making it clear that extension of time will not be granted, a division bench comprising Justices S.Manikumar and M.Govindaraj posted to April 27, further hearing of the contempt petitions filed by the retired state transport corporation employees. When the batch of petitions relating to the bus strike in January by  state transport corporation workers, came up for hearing on Wednesday, Justice E.Padmanaban, a retired judge of the Madras High Court, who was appointed as arbitrator by the bench to adjudicate the difference in wage hike and the date on which it should be applied, filed a report.

In his report, among other things, Justice E.Padmanaban stated that the demand of workmen employed in the 8 state transport corporations to review their wages was not justified and deserves to be negatived as the claimants have already been conferred with the benefits in terms of a settlement in January 1, 2018. No further benefits or claims were to be conferred on the workmen, he added. Recording the same, the bench adjourned the case.