- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10151 WP No. 36274 of 2024 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. 36274 OF 2024 (S-KSRTC) BETWEEN: 1. A SRINIVASAN, S/O A.G. ANANTHAN, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, R/A NO.152, 3RD B MALN 2ND B CROSS, BEHIND AYYAPPA TEMPLE, SOMESHWARANAGARA, CHIKKABOMMASANDRA, YALAHANKA NEW EXTENSION, GKVK, BANGALORE 560 065. 2. H. RAMANJANAPPA, S/O HANUMANTHAPPA, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, R/A NO.79, 1ST MAIN, 4TH CROSS, ANJANEYASWAMY ROAD, ALLALASANDRA, GKVK, BANGALORE 560 065. 3. N.G. VENKATARAJU S/O GOVINDAPPA AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS R/A NO.190/4, 1ST STAGE 1ST BLOCK, SRINAGARA BANGALORE 560 050. 4. S. CHINTHAMANI S/O SUBRAMANYA IYER AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS R/A EWS 78, 4TH CROSS, GANGOTHRI EXTENSION, SARASWATHIPURAM, Digitally signed by PRAMILA G V Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10151 WP No. 36274 of 2024 MYSORE - 570 009. 5. R.S. CHANDRASHEKHARAIAH, S/O SHIVANNA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, R/A NO.170, LAKSHMI TEMPLE BEEDI, HUNASAMARANAHALLI BANGALORE 562 157. 6. D. DIVAKARA, S/O DODDAHANUMANTHAIAH, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, R/A NO.59/A, DHANWANTHARI, 3RD CROSS, MARIYAPPANAPALYA, JNANABHARATHI BANGALORE- 560 056. 7. T.N. MANJUNATHA, S/O NANJUNDAPPA, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, R/A ARALAPETE, GADIKEMPANNA COMPOUND, TUMKUR - 572 101. 8. P.R. NAGARAJARAO, S/O P.S. RAMASUBBARAO, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, R/A NO.5, 1ST MAIN ROAD, 3RD CROSS, NEAR SHIVA TEMPLE, UMAMAHESHWARI EXTENSION, KANAKAPURA MAIN ROAD, DODDAKALLASANDRA, BANGALORE - 560 052. 9. B.S. NARAYANKAR, S/O SHANKARAPPA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, R/A NO.33, KSRTC EMPLOYEES RESIDENCE VINAYAKANAGARA, BANGALORE 560 027. 10. B.P. NAGESH, S/O B.S. PARAMASHIVALAH, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10151 WP No. 36274 of 2024 R/A NO.8, BIJJAHALLI, KANAKAPURA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT - 562 119. 11. KUMAR, S/O NANJAPPA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, R/A NO.48, MATHRUSREE NILAYA, 2ND MAIN ROAD, J.C. NAGARA, MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT, BANGALORE - 560 086. 12. R. RAMESHA, S/O C. RAMAKRISHNAPPA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, R/A NO.162, S.R. NILAYA, 2ND MAIN ROAD, 2ND STAGE, WEST OF CHORD ROAD, CT HOPITAL, MANJUNATHANAGARA, BANGALORE - 560 010. 13. D. GANGADHARA, S/O DASEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, R/A GONITUMKUR AT AND POST DABBEGHATTA HOBLI, TURUVEKERE TALUK, TUMKUR DISTRICT - 572 227. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI A J R THIPPESWAMY.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, BMTC, BMTC CENTRAL OFFICES, K.H. ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE - 560 027. 2. THE CHIEF ACCOUNTS OFFICER, BMTC, CENTRAL OFFICES, K.H. ROAD, SHANTHINAGAR, BANGALORE - 560 027. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10151 WP No. 36274 of 2024 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT RENUKA H R.,ADVOCATE FOR R1 AND R2) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS CORPORATION TO PAY INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 12 PERCENT PER ANNUM TO THE PETITIONERS FOR THE PERIOD OF BELATED PAYMENT OF EARNED LEAVE ENCASHMENT BENEFITS BY CONSIDERING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PETITIONERS DATED 07/09/2023, 14/09/2023, 07/09/2023, 07/09/2023, 14/09/2023, 07/09/2023, 14/09/2023, 07/09/2023, 07/09/2023, 14/09/2023, 07/09/2023, 07/09/2023 AND 19/09/2023 VIDE ANNX-C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, C12 AND C13 RESPECTIVELY. 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 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10151 WP No. 36274 of 2024 Corporation, Dharwad Rural Division and Another vs Tanaji and Others 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 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 1 WA No.100193/2024 2 WP No.106898/2025 & Connected matters 3 (2021) 11 SCC 543 - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10151 WP No. 36274 of 2024 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 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% - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10151 WP No. 36274 of 2024 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.: 0