IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.T.RAVIKUMAR WEDNESDAY, THE 22ND SEPTEMBER 2010 / 31ST BHADRA 1932 WP(C).No. 29141 of 2010(P) ---------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ------------------------- 1. P.BALAKRISHNAN, AGED 68, POTHIKKAT, ARAKKINAR P.O., KOZHIKODE. 2. RENUKADEVI, AGED 61, 'NASS', MALAPARAMBA P.O., KOZHIKODE. 3. D.N.JAYARAJAN, AGED 61, 'RAMARAMAM', PUTHIYARA P.O., KOZHIKODE. 4. ABOOBACKER, AGED 68, KALARIKKAL HOUSE, VENGERI P.O., KOZHIKODE. 5. MADHAVAN, AGED 67, PALMBALATH HOUSE, PANTHEERANKAVU P.O., KOZHIKODE. 6. M.CHANDRAN, AGED 69, 'ARUN NIVAS', POKKUNNU P.O., KOZHIKODE. 7. RAJAN KURUNYAVIL, AGED 67, PARAYIL BHAVAN, PANTHEERANKAVU P.O.,KOZHIKODE. 8. K.C.APPUKKUTTY, AGED 69, 'NECHOT HOUSE', PANTHEERANKAVU P.O., KOZHIKODE. 9. M.GANGADHARAN, AGED 64, PREM NIVAS, POKKUNNU P.O., KOZHIKODE. BY ADVS. SRI.S.K.SAJU, SRI.A.RANJITH NARAYANAN. Kss ..2/- ..2..... WPC.NO.29141/2010 P RESPONDENT(S): ---------------------------- 1. APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT, REGIONAL JOINT LABOUR COMMISSIONER, CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE, 673 001. 2. CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT, DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE 673 001. 3. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, VYDYUTHI BHAVANAM, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN 695 001. R1 & R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SI. K.C. SANTHOSH KUMAR R3 BY ADV. SRI. K.S. ANIL, SC, KSEB THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22/09/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss C.T.RAVIKUMAR, J. ----------------------------------------- W.P. (C) NO. 29141 OF 2010 ---------------------------------------- Dated this the 22nd day of September, 2010. JUDGMENT The petitioners are employees retired from service of the Kerala State Electricity Board. Aggrieved by the inordinate delay in the matter of disbursement of gratuity amount payable to them. Earlier, their applications for disbursement of the amount payable under the Payment of Gratuity Act were allowed by the 2nd respondent and the 3rd respondent was directed to pay the arrears of gratuity. Thereupon, the matter was taken up in appeal under Section 7(7) of the Payment of Gratuity Act by the 3rd respondent. While preferring the appeals the balance amount in respect of each of the petitioner was remitted before the 1st respondent. Later, the appeals preferred by the 3rd respondent were dismissed as per Ext.P2 series. The present grievance of the petitioners is that despite the dismissal of the said appeals the amount payable to them still remains in deposit. In similar circumstances, this Court has issued orders directing the concerned authority to disburse the amount deposited, to the concerned petitioners. W.P. (C) NO. 29141 OF 2010 2 In the circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the 1st respondent to disburse the amount deposited by the 3rd respondent to the petitioners on their executing personal bond for the amount payable to each of them. It shall be done within a period of 6 weeks on receipt of a copy of this judgment. C.T.RAVIKUMAR, JUDGE. mns