IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 31ST OCTOBER 2008 / 9TH KARTHIKA 1930 WP(C).No. 29109 of 2008(M) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. S. PURUSHOTHAMAN PILLAI, THEVARUNADA HOUSE, NEERKKUNNAM, AMBALAPUZHA, ALAPPUZHA (VEHICLE SUPERVISOR (RTD), KSRTC, ALAPPUZHA) 2. P.K.BABY, P.K.B. BHAVAN, KALAVOOR P.O. ALAPPUZHA (DRIVER (RETD) KSRTC), ALAPPUZHA. 3. C.M.THOMAS, CHANNAPARAMBIL HOUSE, THUMBOLY, ALAPPUZHA,(HEAD, VEHICLE SUPERVISOR (RETD), KSRTC, ALAPPUZHA). BY ADV. SRI.ANANDARAJAN.N SRI.K.K.MANGALANANDAN RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE KERALA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRANSPORT BHAVAN, FORT P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 23. 2. THE DISTRICT TRANSPORT, OFFICER, K.S.R.T.C. ALAPPUZHA. SHRI.JOHNSON P.JOHN, SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 31/10/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P(C).No.29109 of 2008 ================== Dated this the 31st day of October, 2008 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are retired employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. Their grievance in this writ petition is that although the provident fund closure amount has been paid to them, that was without interest from the date of retirement till the date of payment. The petitioners, therefore, seek a direction to the Corporation to pay them interest from the date of retirement till the date of payment on the provident fund amount. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the KSRTC submits that no other employee has been paid interest during the relevant period. This is disputed by the counsel for the petitioners. Whatever that be, since the provident fund amount belongs to the petitioners, which has been withheld by the Corporation without any reason, except, perhaps financial stringency, I am of opinion that the KSRTC is liable to pay interest on that for that period also. Accordingly, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondents to pay to the petitioners interest on the provident fund amount due to them with interest upto the date of payment at the same rate as applicable under the statute. The amount shall be paid within one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge 2