(Prayer: This Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of Contempt of Courts Act, to punish the contemnors / respondents 1 and 3 herein for the willful disobedience and non-compliance of the order passed by this Court in W.P.(MD)No.23179 of 2019 dated 24.06.2025.)

1. The present contempt petition has been filed alleging violation of a part of the order of this Court dated 24.06.2025 made in W.P.(MD)No. 23179 of 2019.

2. This Court by an order dated 24.06.2025 had permitted the petitioner to withdraw the amount that was deposited by the second respondent Management before the Controlling Authority under Payment of Gratuity Act, Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Madurai / second respondent therein. That portion of the order has been complied with and the petitioner has already withdrawn a sum of Rs.2,10,222/-.

3. This Court in the same order had directed the second respondent Management to deposit the interest portion on or before 31.10.2025.

4. According to the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, the total interest comes to Rs.4,80,573/-. Out of the said amount, only Rs.90,000/- has been paid to the petitioner and the balance amount of Rs.3,90,573/- has to be paid.

5. The learned counsel appearing for the second respondent Management submitted that the Co-operative Society is under financial crisis and therefore they seek permission of this Court to pay the above said amount in monthly installments and an affidavit has been filed to the said effect. Paragraph No.6 of the said affidavit is extracted as follows:

                   “6. I submit that As per order of the authority under payment of gratuity Act, the interest payable on gratuity amount is calculated and it comes to Rs.4,80,573/-. Subsequent to the order of this Hon'ble court, on 20.12.2025 the 2nd contemnor/3rd respondent has handed over Demand Draft for sum of Rs.50,000/- to the Tahsildar, Madurai North Taluk Office and also informed him that the society is under deep financial crisis and balance amount will be paid on monthly installment of Rs.20,000/- to the writ petitioner. Since entire interest amount was not deposited, the petitioner filed the above contempt petition. Though all possible steps have been taken to settle interest amount, it could not be done for non availability of sufficient funds with the society. There is no intention for the society to keep interest amount unsettled. As assured to Tahsildar, Madurai North Taluk Office, on 13.02.2026, the respondent has drawn DD for sum of Rs.40,000/- in favour of the petitioner. As on today, the respondent has paid Rs.90,000/- out of Rs.4,80,873/- and balance interest amount is Rs.3,90,873/-. The respondent will pay balance interest amount on equal monthly installment of Rs.20,000/- directly to the account of the petitioner which will commence from March, 2026 and end on September 2027. This respondent will not commit any default in making such payment. This respondent has enclosed schedule of payment attached herewith. As such, there is no willful disobedience of the part me in complying the order of this Hon'ble court. Further as and when plots were sold, the entire interest amount will be settled at once.”

6. As per the said affidavit, every month the second respondent Management would pay a sum of Rs.20,000/- directly to the petitioner. The installments would start from 20.03.2026. The last installment of Rs.30,573/- would be paid on 20.09.2027.

7. In view of the financial constraints expressed by the second respondent Management, this Court is inclined to accept the said affidavit and permits the second respondent Management to pay the interest amount by way of installments as agreed by them under the affidavit.

8. Bank details have been furnished by the petitioner by way of memo dated 16.03.2026 before this Court. The memo is recorded.

9. The second respondent Management is directed to credit the amount directly to the bank account of the petitioner.

10. It is made clear that in case of any violation of any one of the installments, the petitioner is at liberty to approach this Court to revive the contempt proceedings.

11. With the above said observations, this Contempt Petition stands closed.