- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE WRIT PETITION NO. 2129 OF 2026 (S-KSRTC) BETWEEN: 1. SRI.K.RANGANATH, S/O LATE G.B. KALAPPA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED ASSISTANT, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, R/AT NO.340, 'SRIHARI KRUPA', 1ST CROSS, KUVEMPU NAGAR, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 401. 2. SRI MALLESHA, S/O LATE KEMPEGWODA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, RETIRED DRIVER, 3. SRI PUTTARAJU M, S/O LATE MADAIAH, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 4. SRI MANJUNATHA C, S/O LATE L. CHIKKARMADAIAH AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED ARTISAN, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION 5. SRI NAGARAJA M, S/O LATE MARISIDDAIAH, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, RETIRED ARTISAN, Digitally signed by PRAMILA G V Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 6. SRI SHIVANNA A.S., S/O LATE SHIVASIDDAIAH, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION 7. SRI APPAJIGOWDA, S/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED ARTISAN, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION 8. SRI NAGARAJU, S/O LATE CHIKKANNAPPA, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 9. SRI SHANKAREGOWDA B.C., S/O LATE CHIKKATHAMMEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 10. SRI DEVARAJEGOWDA, S/O LATE BEEREGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED STAT. SUPERVISOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 11. SRI SYED MOHAMOOD, S/O HAFEEZ MIYA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 12. SRI RAMEGOWDA, S/O LATE SATHEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 13. SRI D N KRISHNA S/O LATE NARASIMHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED ARTISAN, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION. 14. SRI BALARAMA S/O LATE KEMPEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED ARTISAN, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION 15. SRI R DEVARAJU S/O LATE G RANGANATH, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS. RETIRED DRIVER , KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION 16. SRI SATHYANATHAN S/O LATE SINNAPPAN, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER , KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 17. SRI RAMANATHA M J S/O LATE JAVARAIAH, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED ARTISAN, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 18. SRI G B JAYARAMA S/O LATE BOREGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 19. SRI SIDDARAJU K, S/O LATE KARIYAIAH, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED SECURITY HAWALDAR, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 20. SRI MUDDU BORAPPA S/O LATE JAVARAYIGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 21. SRI RAJACHARI S/O LATE M V VENKATACHAR, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED SECURITY HOWALDAR, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 22. SRI NAGARAJA SHETTY D C S/O LATE CHALUVARAYA SHETTY, MAJOR, RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 23. SRI SHIVASWAMY, S/O LATE CHIKKALINGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS, RETIRED CONDUCTOR, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 24. SRI PRAKASH K S, S/O LATE SIDDAIAH @ BUSIGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. STATION OFFICER, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 25. SRI NANJEGOWDA H P, S/O LATE PUTTASWAMY GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC MANDYA DIVISION, 26. SRI DEVARAJU S.H, S/O LATE HAMBAIAH, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 27. SRI BALASUBRAMANYA SWAMY C.R., S/O LATE RAMASWAMY C.K., AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION 28. SRI H. SIDDAIAH, S/O LATE SIDDAIAH, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION 29. SRI G. MALLESHA, S/O LATE GEJJEMALLAIAH, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 30. SRI N. KRISHNA, S/O LATE NAGEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 31. SRI N. NARAYANASWAMY, S/O LATE NARAYANAPPA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 32. SRI M.C.UMESHA, S/O LATE M. CHANDRASHEKARAIAH, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 33. SRI RAMALINGAIAH, S/O LATE SUNDARAPPA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. SECURITY INSPECTOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 34. SRI D.G. PUTTARAJU, S/O LATE GOWDEGOWDA, - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 35. SRI NANJUNDEGOWDA J.B., S/O LATE RAMEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. SECURITY INSPECTOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 36. SRI CHIKKAGULLAPPA, S/O LATE MUNIKENCHAPPA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED TRAFFIC INSPECTOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 37. SRI PUTTASWAMY GOWDA, S/O LATE NARASEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 38. SRI MAHADEVA, S/O LATE MASHANEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 39. SRI B.N. THAMMAIAH, S/O LATE MATHIPURDA NANJA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR, KSRTC, MANDYA DIVISION, 40. SRI K.N. RAVIKUMAR, S/O LATE K. NARASIMHAIAH MURTHY, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 41. SRI JAGADISHA, S/O LATE CHIKKAPPAIA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, 42. SRI S.C. NARAYANA REDDY, S/O CHINNARE REDDY S, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, KSRTC, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, 43. SRI VEERENDRA KUMAR H, S/O LATE ERAYALAGAYAH, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, RETIRED CHARGE MAN, KSRTC, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, 44. SRI S. BEERAIAH, S/O AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, 45. SRI N. SUBBAIAH, S/O LATE NALLAPPA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, RETIRED DRIVER, KSRTC, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, 46. SRI H.B. SHIVASHANKAR, S/O, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, RETIRED ASST. TRAFFIC INSPECTOR, KSRTC, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, PETITIONER NOS.2 TO 46 ARE R/AT C/O SRI K. RANGANATH, R/AT NO. 340, SRIHARI KRUPA, 1ST CROSS, KUVEMPU NAGAR, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 401. PETITIONERS DO NOT CLAIM - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 THE BENEFITS OF SENIOR CITIZENSHIP. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI SOMA SUNDER RAO R, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KARNATAKA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION, CENTRAL OFFICES, K H ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR BENGALURU-560027. 2. THE DIVISIONAL CONTROLLER, KARNATAKA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION, MANDYA DIVISION, MANDYA - 571 401. 3. THE DIVISIONAL CONTROLLER, KARNATAKA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, RAMANAGARA - 562 150. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI B L SANJEEV, ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED 08.01.2026 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONERS AND PAY THE INTEREST ON THE DELAYED PAYMENT OF EARNED LEAVE ENCASHMENT BENEFITS AT THE RATE OF 6PERCENT PER ANNUM AS HELD BY THIS HON'BLE COURT FROM THE DATE THE SAID AMOUNT FELL DUE TILL THE DATE OF ACTUAL PAYMENT.B) GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEF OR RELIEFS AS THIS HON'BLE COURT DEEMS FIT AND PROPER UNDER THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE TO MEET THE ENDS OF JUSTICE. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE ORAL ORDER Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the respondent. 2. The dispute is relating to the interest payable on the delayed payment of service benefits payable to the petitioner- employee by the respondent-Corporation. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would urge that the Division Bench of this Court in The Divisional Controller, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, Dharwad Rural Division and Another vs Tanaji and Others1 has awarded 9% interest on delayed payment and would urge that same rate of interest is to be applied to the petitioner's claim and 9% interest per annum is to be awarded. 4. Learned counsel for the respondent-Corporation would refer to the judgment of the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Sri Yallappa vs. The Management of NWKRTC Hubballi Rural 1 WA No.100193/2024 - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 Division and connected matters2 and would urge that 6% interest is awarded on delayed payment. It is urged on behalf of the respondent-Corporation that, though the Division Bench has awarded 9% interest, the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court has referred to the Supreme Court Judgment wherein, the interest is awarded interest at 6% per annum and the Divisional Bench of this Court has not referred to the judgment in State of Andhra Pradesh and Another vs. Dinavahi Lakshmi Kameswari3 as such, the said judgment is per incuriam. 5. The Court has considered the contentions raised at the Bar and perused the records. 6. In the judgment of the Division Bench referred to by the learned counsel for the petitioner, admittedly, there is no reference to the judgment of the Apex Court in State of Andhra Pradesh (supra) which has awarded 6% interest in case of delayed payment. The Co-ordinate Bench of this Court has referred to the judgment of the Apex Court in State of Andhra Pradesh (supra) which is with reference to a similar- Corporation namely the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation and the Apex Court 2 WP No.106898/2025 & Connected matters 3 (2021) 11 SCC 543 - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10153 WP No. 2129 of 2026 noticing the financial condition of the said Corporation has reduced the interest from 12% to 6%. 7. Since it is submitted that on account of financial difficulty faced by the petitioner-Corporation which is also due to the unprecedented difficult situation during Covid period, the Court is of the view that the petitioner is entitled to 6% interest on the delayed payment. 8. However, it is made clear that in case the payment is not made within 12 weeks from today, the petitioner is entitled to 9% interest per annum and in such a situation, the respondent- Corporation cannot plead for reduction of interest rate. 9. Petition is disposed of accordingly. Sd/- (ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE) JUDGE CHS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 72