IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN MONDAY, THE 1ST FEBRUARY 2010 / 12TH MAGHA 1931 WP(C).No. 20927 of 2008(N) --------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- V.P. JOSEPH, AGED 40 YEARS, S/O. PATHROSE, PALLIKKAVUNGAL HOUSE, THADIYAMPADU.P.O, THODUPUZHA TALUK, IDUKKI DISTRICT. BY ADV. MR.A.C.DEVASIA RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY LAW SECRETARY, LAW DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, IDUKKI, KUILUMALA, PYNAVU, IDUKKI DISTRICT. R1 & R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR.I.V. PRAMOD. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 01/02/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C) NO. 20927/2008-N APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1: COPY OF THE GOVERNMENT ORDER NO.160/98/LAW DATED 22/04/1998. EXT.P2: COPY OF THE INTIMATION DATED 14/05/1998 ISSUED BY DISTRICT COLLECTOR. EXT.P3: COPY OF THE ORDER E1-15941/2001 DATED 23/05/2002 ISSUED BY THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, IDUKKI. EXT.P4: COPY OF THE DETAILED BILL DATED 03/07/2002 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT EXT.P5: COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 10/04/2008 ISSUED BY THE PETITIONER. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS: NIL //TRUE COPY// P.S. TO JUDGE rs. THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, J. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = W.P.(C).No.20927 of 2008-N = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 1st day of February, 2010. Judgment 1.The Government retained the petitioner as one of its advocates in Idukki district. He rendered professional services to the Government from 1998 to 2002. He claims that amounts due to him towards advocate's fee have not been released. 2.The District Collector has placed an affidavit stating that the files in relation to the different matters are not traceable to settle the accounts and that the petitioner has made a belated claim for the fee. The confidence by the Government on an advocate to retain him for works before courts essentially includes an element of mutuality of faith and confidence and under such circumstances, it would never be in public interest or a matter to be taken with a smile that the Government does not make its payments in WPC20927/08 -: 2 :- time. However, the records have also to be straight. In the aforesaid circumstances, this writ petition is ordered directing that on the petitioner placing a detailed statement of accounts with supporting details regarding the amounts due to him, the District Collector will verify the matter and see that the accounts are settled and funds released within an outer limit of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment and the materials, including the statement as afore-directed. THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN, JUDGE. Sha/0602