Desh Raj vs H.R.T.C. & Another

Anoop Chitkara, J

A retired Head Mechanic, who worked with the respondent Himachal Road Transport Corporation till 31.3.2020, has come up before this Court

seeking directions for release of his entire retiral dues including pension, gratuity (DCRG), leave encashment etc. along with interest.

Notice. Mr. Ajay Chauhan, Advocate appears and waives service on behalf of the respondents.

Learned standing counsel for HRTC states that this Court has passed a detailed order in CWP No.4471 of 2020 and similar orders be passed in this

petition.

Given the nature of the order, we propose to pass no written instructions/response is required to be filed from the respondents.

In CWP No.4471/2020 titled Gian Chand Vs, HRTC and others, after hearing the management of the HRTC, we had passed the following order:

“3. Ms. Shubh Mahajan, leaned Senior Counsel representing the respondent-Corporation, submits that out of total strength of 9691 employees, 6739

employees have retired from service and monthly retiral benefits have been paid to 6516 employees. It is further submitted that the monthly pension of

remaining 223 employees would be paid regularly from the end of this month. In respect of retiral benefits, learned Senior Counsel submits that it

includes commutted pension, DCRG, leave encashment and arrears.

In the affidavit dated 29th October, 2020, it has been stated that the Board of Directors of respondent-Corporation have approved the creation of

separate Pension Account, directing to transfer 7% of the passenger receipt on daily basis to the said account and the decision of the Board of

Directors was implemented w.e.f. 06.03.2019.

Though it is the duty of the respondent-Corporation to pay retiral benefits immediately after superannuation, but because of Corona pandemic the

respondent-Corporation has not collected revenue since lock-down. Virtually for more than six months regular income has come down to a few lakhs

in place of crores. For the said reason, the respondent-Corporation find it difficult to settle the retiral benefits.

Learned Senior Counsel submits that: (i) in respect of leave encashment and DCRG, principal amount of DCRG upto October 2017 and principal

amount of leave encashment upto August 2016 stands paid. Post March 2021 whatever funds shall be collected, will be disbursed in the order of

retirement. However, in respect of leave encashment and DCRG, whosoever approaches the respondent-Corporation in exceptional circumstances

i.e. death cases, marriage of the children, education of the children, serious ailments and repayment of house loan, the same shall be considered as an

exceptional case and disbursed at the earliest; (ii) in respect of 223 retired employees, the commutted value would be paid within four months from

today strictly in order of retirement; and (iii) it is further submitted by the learned Senior Counsel on instructions from the officers, who are present in

Court, that the arrears on the entire delayed payment will be paid with statutory interest on the entire amount.â€​

Given above, we take on record the submissions of the learned counsel for the respondent and direct that the respondents shall pay to the petitioner

the entire retiral dues along with statutory interest on the entire amount on or before 30.4.2021.

Accordingly, this petition shall stand disposed of along with pending application(s), if any.

Copy dasti.