IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN MONDAY, THE 4TH JULY 2011 / 13TH ASHADHA 1933 WP(C).No. 17971 of 2011(V) -------------------------- PETITIONERS: --------------- 1. T.J.PAULOSE,S/O.JOSEPH,THUDIYAMPARAMBIL HOUSE,KOOTHATTUKULAM POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.147/04) 2. P.S.RADHAMANIAMMA,W/O.LATE P.K.RAMAN NAIR,PUNNEKKATTUPUTHENPURA HOUSE,INCHOOR, KOZHIPPILLY.P.O,KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.151/04) 3. P.N.SURENDRAN,S/O.K.K.SAIDHU, KANNAPARAMBIL HOUSE,(GC.NO.156/04) MUVATTUPUZHA POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. 4. K.S.SAINUDHEEN,S/O.K.K.SAIDHU, KANNAPARAMBIL HOUSE,(GC.NO.156/04) MUVATTUPUZHA POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. 5. C.T.SIMON,S/O.THOMAS,CHALATTU HOUSE, (GC.NO.158/04),OLIYAPPURAM POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. 6. P.V.MATHEW,S/O.P.M.VARKEY,PITTAPPILLIL HOUSE,PERUMBALLOOR POST,MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.160/04 7. D.PARAMESWARI AMMAL,W/O.K.N.NARAYANAN NAMBOODIRI,NARAYANALAYAM,ENANALLOOR POST, MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.162/04) 8. P.G.NARAYANI,W/O.K.RAMAKRISHNAN, KOTTARAMTHOPPIL HOUSE,PEURMBALLOR POST, MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.165/04). 9. K.RAMAKRISHNAN,S/O.KOCHURAMAN, KOTTARAMTHOPPIL HOUSE,PERUMBALLOOR POST, MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.166/04) 10. BABY THOMAS,S/O.THOMAS,CHALATTU HOUSE, (GC.167/04)OLIYAPPURAM POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. 11. M.A.JOSEPH,S/O OUSEPH,MALIYEKKAL HOUSE, (GC.NO.170/04),PERUMANNOOR POST,NELLIMATTOM. 12. K.R.VIJAYAKUMAR,S/O.K.R.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI,VRINDAVAN,AVOLY POST,ANIKKADU, MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.173/04). 13. M.V.OUSEPH,S/O.VARGHESE,MANIYIRICKAL HOUSE,KARUKADOM POST,KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.176/04) 14. K.M.NACHIKUNJU,W/O.M.B.MOIDEEN, MANIYATTUKUDY HOUSE,(GC.NO.178/04)AYIROOPADAM POST KOTHAMANGALAM. 15. THANKAMANI GEORGE,W/O.P.V.PAUL, PARAMBAN HOUSE,MUVATTUPUZHA POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.179/04). 16. K.S.MUHAMMED,S/O.K.K.SAIDHU, KANNAPARAMBIL HOUSE,(GC.NO.191/04)MUVATTUPUZHA POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. 17. AMEENA,W/O.A.M.HANEEFA,ELAVUMCHALIL HOUSE,VADATTUPARA POST,KOTHAMANGALAM. (GC.NO.355/04) 18. K.N.PONNU ACHARI,S/O.NARAYANAN ACHARI, PARAKANDATHIL HOUSE,(DEVI VILASAM),KAVUMKARA MARKET POST,MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.359/04). 19. VILASINI GOPI,W/O.LATE GOPI, SREE NIVAS HOUS,RAMAMANGALAM POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.360/04) 20. P.M.LUKA,S/O.MATHAI,PUTHIYAKUNNEL HOUSE, OLIYAPPURAM POST,KOOTHATTUKULAM,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.365/04). 21. P.A.VASU,S/O.APPUKUTTY,PATTIKKARA HOUSE, KALPETTA,WAYANAD,NOW RESIDING AT:PAINGOTTOOR POST, KADAVOOR VILLAGE,KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.371/04) 22. K.P.THOMAS,S/O.PAULOSE,KOMAYIL HOUSE, (GC.NO.376/04)VENDUVAZY,KARUKADOM POST. 23. K.K.PURUSHOTHAMAN,S/O.KESAVAN, PUTHENPURAYIL HOUSE,NEAR K.S.R.T.C, KOTHAMANGALAM POST.(GC.NO.377/04) 24. M.T.PALLIAN,S/O.THULUVAN,MALAYIL HOUSE, NJAYAPPILLY POST,KOTHAMANGALAM(GC.NO.379/04) 25. K.GOPALAKRISHNAN NAIR,S/O.KUMARAN NAIR, AIKKARATHARAVELIYIL HOUSE,CHELAD.P.O,PINDIMANA, KOTHAMANGALAM(GC.NO.383/04) 26. C.R.DIVAKARAN,S/O.RAMAN,CHERIYANOLICKAL HOUSE,(GC.NO.384/04),NERIYAMANGALAM POST, KOTHAMANGALAM. 27. T.C.ALEX,S/O.CHACKO,KEEPPANASSERIL HOUSE BYEPASS ROAD,KOTHAMANGALAM POST.(GC.NO.386/04) 28. SARAMMA THOMAS,W/O.LATE P.V.THOMAS, PADINJAREKUDIYIL HOUSE,THRIKKARIYOOR POST, KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.387/04) 29. ANNAKUTTY JOHN,W/O.LATE P.T.JOHN, PARAYIL HOUSE,NEAR SUB STATION ROAD,KOTHAMANGALAM POST.(GRATUITY CASE NO.389/04) 30. M.K.SUMATHYAMMA,W/O.LATE BALAGOPALAN, SANTHI BHAVANAM HOUSE,KOTHAMANGALAM POST, MATHIRAPPILLY.(GC.NO.395/04) 31. S.RAVEENDRAN,S/O.N.SANKARAN, EDAMALATHADATHIL HOUSE,PERUMBALLOR,MUVATTUPUZHA, NOW RESIDING AT:VALLAM,KOTTARAKKARA POST, KOLLAM DISTRICT,PIN:691506.(G.C.NO.400/04) 32. K.G.NARAYANAN,S/O.GOVINDAN,KOLLAMKUDIYIL HOUSE,CHERUVATTOOR POST,KOTHAMANGALAM, (G.C.NO.408/04) 33. P.V.JOSEPH,S/O.VARGHESE,PALLIAN HOUSE, NJAYAPPILLY POST,KOTHAMANGALAM.(G.C.NO.412/04) 34. C.A.ABRAHAM,S/O.ABRAHAM,CHEMBAKATHINAL HOUSE,EAST MARADY POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.416/04) 35. M.V.JOHN,S/O.VARKEY,MANITHOTTATHIL HOUSE,SOUTH MARADY POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.418/04) 36. P.M.SOOSAMMA,W/O.LATE K.V.PAULOSE, PENATTEL HOUSE,PIRAMADOM,NORTH PIRAMADOM POST, MUVATTUPUZHA(GC.NO.426/04) 37. A.MURALEEDHARAN NAIR,S/O.M.ACHUTHAN NAIR MYALILPUTHENPURA HOUSE,MULAKKULAM NORTH POST, PIRAVOM,MUVATTUPUZHA.(G.C.NO.432/04) 38. K.M.ABDUL HAMEED,S/O.MYTHEEN, KANJIRAMUKALEL HOUSE,MANIKINAR POST,NELLIMATTOM, KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.434/04) 39. V.I.MANORAMA,W/O.K.K.MADHAVAN, KIZHAKKEKUNNEL HOUSE,MATHIRAPPILLY POST, KOTHAAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.436/04) 40. M.M.MAKKAR,S/O.MUHAMMED,MANGATTU HOUSE, CHATHAMATTOM POST,POTHANIKKAD,KOTHAMANGALAM. (GC.NO.444/04) 41. M.J.JOHN,S/O.JOSEPH,MEPPURATHU HOUSE, PERUMBALLOOR POST,ARAKKUZHA,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.446/04) 42. M.N.KUMARAN,S/O.NARAYANAN,MATTAPPILLIL HOUSE,M.A.COLLEGE POST,(GC.NO.449/0)MATHIRAPPILLY, KOTHAMANGALAM. 43. SOSAMMA.K.K,W/O.LATE N.I.KURIAKOSE, NEDILAMATTATHIL HOUSE,EAST KADATHY,MARKET POST, MUVATTUPUZHA(GC.NO.450/04) 44. K.U.ANTONY,S/O.ULAHANNAN,KOIJKARA HOUSE, AMALAPARAMBU,KUTHUKUZHY POST,KOTHAMANGALAM. (GC.NO.457/04) 45. P.THOMAS,S/O.PAILY,VADAKKENETHIKUZHIYIL HOUSE,PAZHOOR EAST POST,PIRAVOM.(GC.NO.464/04) 46. T.J.SKARIA,S/O.M.O.JOSEPH, THANNICKAKUZHIYIL HOUSE,KAKKOOR POST, KOOTHATTUKULAM.(GC.NO.466/04) 47. M.N.SEKHARAN,S/O.NARAYANAN,MUNDACKAL HOUSE,NERYAMANGALAM POST,KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.467/ 04) 48. K.SREEDHARAN NAIR,S/O.KRISHNAN NIAR, KUNNATHU HOUSE,ARAKUZHA POST,ARAKUZHA VILLAGE, MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.468/04). 49. ABHILASH.K.MATHEW,S/O.LATE K.K.MATHAI, OLICKAL HOUSE,MANNATHOOR POST,THIRIMARADY VILLAGE, MUVATTUPUZHA,ERNAKULAM DISTRICT,(G.C.NO.469/04) 50. N.M.THOMAS,S/O.MATHAI,NIRAPPUKANDATHIL HOUSE,PAIGOTTOOR POST,KADAVOOR VILLAGE, KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.471/04) 51. BABU JOSE,S/O.O.V.JOSEPH,OLIYAPPURAM HOUSE,KOTHAMANGALAM POST,KOTHAMANGALAM. (GC.NO.473/04) 52. ANCY SIMON,W/O.SIMON,MAVELIPUTHENPURAYIL HOUSE,VAZHITHALA POST,THODUPUZHA,IDUKKI. (G.C.NO.13/05) 53. STEPHEN MATHAI,S/O.MATHAI,ALAKATHADATHIL HOUSE,MARIKA POST,(GC.NO.14/05) 54. Y.PRAKASH,S/O.YOHANNAN, THORACKALPUTHENPURA HOUSE,PANDAPPILLY POST, ARAKUZHA VILLAGE,MUVATTUPUZHA.(G.C.N0.337/05) 55. M.B.ALIYAR,S/O.BAVA,MANGATTU HOUSE, PANANKARA,KADAVOOR POST,KOTHAMANGALAM.( GC.NO.346/05) 56. K.R.RAJAPPAN,S/O.RAMAN,KEEZHETHU HOUSE, NERYAMANGALAM POST,KOTHAMANGALAM.)GC.NO.346/05) 57. S.NEELAKANTAN NAIR,S/O.SREEKANTAN NAIR, KURIEEPPILLIL HOUSE,SOUTH OF PETTA,MUVATTUPUZHA POST,MARADY VILLAGE,MUVATTUPUZHA,(GC.NO.349/05) 58. A.V.GNANESWARAN,S/O.VASU,ASWATHY BHAVAN HOUSE,KARUKADOM POST,KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.351/05) 59. C.K.SUKUMARAN,S/O.KOCHUKUTTAN NAIR, ASWATHY HOUSE,KUNNACKAL POST,MUVATTUPUZHA. (GC.NO.355/05) 60. K.J.RUFEENA,W/O.M.M.THOMAS,MADACKAL HOUSE,ARAKUZHA ROAD,MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.357/05) 61. C.K.KURUVILA,S/O.CHACKO,CHUNDAYIL HOUSE, MEKKADAMPU POST,MUVATTUPUZHA(GC.NO.358/05) 62. K.P.KESAVAN,S/O.PAPPAN,KUNNUMPURATHU HOUSE,NJAYAPPILLY POST,KUTTAMPUZHA VILLAGE, KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.363/05) 63. K.S.PAULOSE,S/O.SKARIAH,KOTTALIL HOUSE, KOTTAPPADY POST,KOTHAMANGALAM.(GC.NO.364/05) 64. C.N.CHANDRASEKHARAN,S/O.C.K.NARAYANAN, CHELATTU HOUSE,KOOTHATTUKULAM POST, MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.368/05) 65. P.RADHAMANI AMMA,W/O.P.R.MAHARAJAPILLAI, PADMAVILASAM HOUSE,KOOTHATTUKULAM.P.O, (GC.NO.371/05) 66. N.KUNJURAMAN NAIR,S/O.KESAVAN NAIR, NLLADIPUTHENPURA HOUSE,VARAPPETTY POST, VARAPPETTY VILLAGE,MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.374/05) 67. M.T.PAULOSE,S/O.THOMMAN,MUTTAPPILLIL HOUSE,SOUTH MARADY POST,MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.375/05 68. K.V.MAITHEEN,S/O.VAVA,KAROTTUVEEDU HOUSE VENDUVAZHY,(G.C.NO.383/05),KOTHAMANGALAM POST. 69. V.K.SARALA DEVI,W/O.C.K.SUKUMARAN, VARAKUKALAYIL HOUSE,130 JUNCTION,MUVATTUPUZHA POST,NEAR K.S.R.T.C,MUVATTUPUZHA.(G.C.NO.386/05) 70. V.A.MARIYAM,W/O.M.J.JOHN,MEPPURATHU HOUSE,PERUMBALLOR POST,ARAKUZHA VILLAGE, MUVATTUPUZHA (GC.NO.387/05) 71. E.N.SUNDARAN,S/O.DAMODARAN NAIR, VILAYATHU HOUSE,EAST VAZHAPPILLY POST, MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.477/05) 72. P.X.JAIN MARY,W/O.KURIACHEN, MUNDACKAL HOUSE,KOTHAMANGALAM POST, MALAYINKEEZHU,KAIRALI NAGAR,KOTHAMANGALAM (GC.NO.240/06) 73. P.M.KADIRU,S/O.MUHAMMED,PUTHENPURACKAL HOUSE,PUTHUPPADY POST,MUVATTUPUZHA.(GC.NO.242/06) BY ADV. SRI.P.V.SANTHOSH JOSE RESPONDENTS: --------------- 1. THE KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD VYDHUTHI BHAVAN,PATTOM,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,REP. BY ITS SECRETARY 695 001. 2. THE CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT,(DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, ERNAKULAM) 682 030. 3. THE REGIONAL JOINT LABOUR COMMISSIONER, OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, CIVIL STATION,KAKKANAD,ERNAKULAM 682 030. BY GOVT. PLEADER SRI.P.M.MANOJ SRI.K.S.ANIL,SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 04/07/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C) No. 17971/2011 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS 1 TO 16 EXT.P2 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS 17 TO 33 EXT.P3 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS 34 TO 51 EXT.P4 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS 52 & 53 EXT.P5 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS 54 TO 63 EXT.P6 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS 64 TO 70 EXT.P7 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONER NO.71 EXT.P8 : COPY OF THE ORDER IN RESPECT OF THE PETITIONERS 72 & 73 EXT.P9 : COPY OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT BOARD RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS: NIL //TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE vps P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 17971 OF 2011 -------------------------- Dated this the 4th day of July, 2011 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are former employees of the Kerala State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as 'the Board' for short). Upon retirement they were paid terminal benefits including gratuity computed in terms of the provisions contained in Part-III of the Kerala Service Rules. Long after their retirement, relying on the decision of this Court in O.P. No.674 of 2002 the petitioners filed separate applications before the Controlling Authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act' for short) seeking payment of gratuity in terms of the said enactment. The Controlling Authority allowed the applications and directed payment of the difference in the amount of gratuity with interest at applicable rates from the respective due dates. This writ petition is filed contending that though the principal amount of gratuity directed to be paid by the Controlling Authority under the Act was deposited and disbursed, the interest payable to the petitioners in terms of the orders passed by the Controlling Authority has not been deposited so far. In this writ petition, the petitioners seek an order directing WPC No.17971/2011 2 the Board to pay the interest portion expeditiously. 2. Sri.K.S.Anil, the learned standing counsel appearing for the Board submitted that the Board has by order No. B.O.(FB) No.1313/2011(PSI/Gratuity/TVPM/2006) dated 24.5.2011 decided to adopt and implement the provisions of the Act in respect of the employees of the Board and that the Board will therefore take steps to deposit the interest portion expeditiously. The learned standing counsel also submitted that having regard to the heavy financial commitment the Board may be granted at least six months' time from today to deposit the interest portion. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners did not oppose the said request. That apart, I have by judgment delivered on 7.6.2011 in W.P.(C) No. 639 of 2011 and connected cases disposed of similar writ petitions filed by former employees of the Board wherein after taking note of the heavy financial commitment involved, I granted the Board six months' time from the date of the judgment to deposit the interest portion and had also directed that interest will run on the principal amount of gratuity directed to be paid by the Controlling Authority only from the respective due dates till the date of deposit of the principal amount. I accordingly dispose of the writ petition with the following directions: WPC No.17971/2011 3 (i) The Board shall within six months from today deposit the amount payable to the petitioners by way of interest calculated in terms of Exts.P1 to P8 orders computed with reference to the respective due dates till the date of deposit of the principal amount, before the Controlling Authority. (ii) Upon such deposit being made, it will be open to the petitioners to unconditionally withdraw the amount deposited. P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps