IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN THURSDAY, THE 16TH JUNE 2011 / 26TH JYAISHTA 1933 WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) ---------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- 1. K.SANKARAN NAIR, S/O.KRISHNAN NAIR, AGED 67 YEARS, 'USHUS', ITHY, PONGUMMOODU, KOOVALASSERI POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 512. 2. J.BALARAJ, S/O.M.JOSEPH, AGED 63 YEARS, CHERIYAKALA PUTHEN VEEDU, PARASSUVAIKKAL POST. 3. J.JOHNSON, S/O.JACOB, AGED 68 YEARS, SHERI BHAVAN, KAKKENAMKONAM, KANJIRAMKULAM POST. 4. K.MANIKANTAN, S/O.KUNJUKRISHNAN, AGED 65 YEARS, WILLS COTTAGE, CHARAL POTTA, MANIVILA POST. 5. C.RAVEENDRAN PILLAI, S/O.CHELLAPPAN PILLAI, AGED 64 YEARS, VATTAVILA, UDIYANKULANGARA, ARAYOOR POST. 6. M.VELUKUTTY, S/O.MANASOADAL, AGED 68 YEARS, SIJI BHAVAN, KARUMKULAM, PUTHIYATHURA POST. 7. S.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI, S/O.SANKARAPILLAI, AGED 65 YEARS, SANKARA BHAVAN, KAITHAKONA, KATTAKADA POST. 8. V.SREENIVASAN, S/O.VISWANATHAN, AGED 66 YEARS, KAVINPURAM VEEDU, MARAYAMUTTAM POST. 9. A.BELSON, S/O.EBMEEZER, AGED 67 YEARS, SHYAM NIVAS, NELLIKKAKUZHI, KANJIRAMKULAM POST. 10. G.PAULLOS, S/O.GAMALI, AGED 66 YEARS, KUZHAKUDI VILAKAM, NADOORKOLLA, AMARAVILA POST. 11. H.STUART, S/O.HARIS NADAR, AGED 67 YEARS, REENA COTTAGE, GRAMAM, NEYYATTINKARA. ...2/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -2- 12. N.LAZAR, S/O.NESAN, AGED 67 YEARS, VETTUVILA VEEDU, KUNNIYODU, KAKKAVILA POST. 13. A.DURAISWAMY, S/O.ARUMUGAN, AGED 70 YEARS, JOSEPHPURAM, MYLADI POST, K.K.DISTRICT. 14. N.RAJASEKHARAN NAIR, S/O.NANAPPAN NAIR, AGED 65 YEARS, BIMOHANAM, SRAB/10, KARAKKAMANDAPAM, NEMAM POST. 15. V.JOSEPH, S/O.VELAYUDHAN, AGED 65 YEARS, THOTTAMVILA VEEDU, KARUMANOOR, PARASALA POST. 16. Y.JERADSON, S/O.YOHANNAN, AGED 67 YEARS, SHINE COTTAGE, APPATHUVILA,THIRUPURAM POST. 17. G.KUMARAN NAIR, S/O.GOVINDAPILLAI, AGED 65 YEARS, KUMARA BHAVAN, VANDANNOOR, PERUMPAZHUTHOOR POST. 18. K.RAJAGOPALAN ASSARI, S/O.A.KUMARASWAMY ASSARI, AGED 65 YEARS, AISWARYA, AMARAVILA POST. 19. M.SACHIDANANDAN, S/O.MADHAVAN, AGED 65 YEARS, USHAS BHAVAN, VELLAYANI, OOKODU POST. 20. A.SIVANANDAN, S/O.AYYAPPAN, AGED 67 YEARS, LEKSHMI BHAVAN, KOOTTAPANA, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 21. P.JOSHUVA, S/O.PACHAN, AGED 65 YEARS, JOSHUVA COTTAGE, NEDUVANVILA, PARASALA POST. 22. P.ABOOBEKKAR, S/O.PEERUKANNU, AGED 65 YEARS, BISMILLA MANZIL,T B JUNCTION, NEYYATTINKARA. 23. SIVARAJAN, S/O.DIVAKARAN, AGED 65 YEARS, SIVA BHAVAN, ALAMCHIRA, PALUKAL POST, K.K.DIST. 24. N.PURUSHOTHAMAN, S/O.NARAYANAN ASSARI, AGED 65 YEARS, SIVA VILASAM, KOOVALASSERI POST. 25. K.GOPINATHAN NAIR, S/O.KRISHNA PILLAI, AGED 64 YEARS, SATHYADEVA MANDIRAM, OOKODU POST. 26. S.CHRISTHU DAS, S/O.SABARIMUTTAN, AGED 67 YEARS, CB HOUSE, PLAVUNINNA MULLUVILA POST, THIRUPURAM. 27. KAMALASANAN.M, S/O.MADHAVAN, AGED 64 YEARS SREEHARI SADANAM, NEERAMANKUZHY, OORUTTAMBALAM POST. ...3/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -3- 28. R.SUKUMARAN, S/O.RAGHAVAN, AGED 65 YEARS, MS BHAVAN, MEKKOLA, DHANUVACHAPURAM POST. 29. DASSAYYAN, S/O.VELAYUDHAN NADAR, AGED 62 YEARS, DAS BHAVAN, PAZHAVILA, MULLUVILA POST. 30. P.SIVANKUTTY NAIR, S/O.,PARAMESWARAN PILLAI, AGED 63 YEARS, SIVA MANDIRAM, PALLIVILA, PERUMKADAVILA POST. 31. C.NESAN, S/O.CHELLAYYAN, AGED 63 YEARS, NADUTHALA, PUTHENVEEDU, VANNIYOOR POST K.K.DIST. 32. K.KRISHNANKUTTY, S/O.KOCHURAMAN, AGED 64 YEARS, K.S.MANDIRAM, NILAMA, OOKODU POST. 33. G.BHASKARAN, S/O.GANGADARA PANICKER, AGED 64 YEARS, MANOJ BHAVAN, CHARUVILAKAM, AMARAVILA POST. 34. S.VASANTHAKUMARI, W/O.LATE KRISHNAN, 63 YEARS, PREMPRIYA, NEAR THAIKAVU MOSQUE, BALARAMAPURAM POST. 35. M.ARUMUGHAN, S/O.MADAVAN PILLAI, 63 YEARS, UDAMALKUNDAL VILAKATHU VEEDU, KULACHAL POST. 36. V.DEVADANADAS, S/O. VEDAKANNU, AGED 62 YEARS, DAS COTTAGE, KUZHICHANI, VATTAVILA POST, AMARAVILA. 37. R.SASI, S/O. K.RAGHAVAN, 62 YEARS, SARATH NILAYAM, MANNADIKONAM, OORUTTAMBALAM POST. 38. G.KRISHNANKUTTY, S/O. GOVINDAN, 65 YEARS, PALLINADA VEEDU, KEEZHKOLLA, AMARAVILA POST. 39. P.KOMALAM, W/O. LATE DIVAKARAN, 55 YEARS, AMBALATHUVILAKATHU VEEDU, VELLOORKONAM, KOOVALASSERY. 40. M.SUDHAKARAN, S/O. MADHAVAN K., 63 YEARS, DEEPAM, CONVENT ROAD, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 41. G.TITUS, S/O. GAMALI, 65 YEARS, T.S.BHAVAN, KUZHAKUDIVILAKAM, AMARAVILA POST. 42. S.SASIDHARAN, S/O. SUKUMARAN, AGED 61 YEARS, MAKOYIRAM, POTHAMCODU, NELLIMOODU POST. ...4/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -4- 43. P.SIVASANKARAN, S/O. PARAMU PANICKER, 63 YEARS, THOZHICHEL, HARBOUR ROAD, VIZHINJAM POST. 44. T.P.JAYAKUMAR, S/O. PARAMESWARAN PILLAI, 65 YEARS, SEEMALAYAM, OORUTHUKALA, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 45. V.AMBI, S/O. VELAYUDHAN, 66 YEARS, TAJ COTTAGE, VALANVILA, NELLIMOODU POST. 46. P.BHASKARAN, S/O. PARAMU NADAR, 68 YEARS, SREEJA BHAVAN, VIRALI, KULATHOOR, UCHAKADA POST. 47. V.CHELLAPPAN, S/O. VELAYUDHAN, 67 YEARS, THUMBAKEL VEEDU, VIRALI, KULATHOOR, UTCHAKADA POST. 48. R.SIVADAS, S/O. P.RAGHAVAN NADAR, 67 YEARS, PANANINNA PUTHEN VEEDU, KANJIRAMKULAM POST. 49. K.NAGAPPAN NAIR, S/O. KUNJANPILLAI, 66 YEARS, KUMARA SADANAM, PORUTHAL, MANCHAVILAKAM POST. 50. B.GOPINATHAN, S/O. BHANU PANICKER, 66 YEARS, INDIRA BHAVAN, KUSHINJAKELA, POOZHIKUNNU, CHENKAL POST. 51. S.SUKUMARAN, S/O. SIVATHANU PILLAI, 62 YEARS, ASWATHY BHAVAN, KUNJANAMKONAM, PARASALA POST. 52. K.SANTHA KUMARI AMMA, W/O. K.VELAYUDHAN PILLAI, 66 YEARS, PRATHIBHA, THIRUPURAM POST. 53. A.JACOB VALSALAM, S/O. AMMOS VALSALAM, 65 YEARS, KUNNUVILA PUTHEN VEEDU, THOZHUKKAL, NEYYATTINKARA. 54. T.KRISHNAN NAIR, S/O. THANNUPILLAI, 70 YEARS, KRISHNA NIVAS, ANNAVOOR POST. 55. K.SREEDHARAN NAIR, S/O. KRISHNA PILLAI, 65 YEARS, PONGATTUVEEDU, KILLIYOOR, VELLARADA POST. 56. S.MAHENDRAN NAIR, S/O.SARWESWARAN PILLAI, 65 YEARS, AMBADI, NADOORKOLLA, AMARAVILA POST. ...5/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -5- 57. C.DEVADASAN, S/O.CHELLAPPAN, 65 YEARS, ANU COTTAGE, INCHIVILA, PARASSALA POST. 58. N.RAMAKRISNNAN NADAR, S/O.NARAYANAN NADAR, 67 YEARS, SANTHI NIVAS, CHARUVUVILA, KOTTUKAL, NELLIMOODU POST. 59. L.SARGADHARAN,S/O.LEKSHMANA PANICKER, 64 YEARS, RESHMA BHAVAN, NILAMAMOODU, KARAKKONAM POST. 60. Y.ANTONY, S/O.YAGAPPAN, 63 YEARS, ANUJA BHAVAN, VENKULAM, NELLIMOODU POST. 61. K.KRISHNANKUTTY, S/O.KRISHNAN, 62 YEARS, KULAVARAMBU VEEDU, ARUMANOOR, POOVAR POST. 62. N.VIJAYAKUMAR, S/O.NAGAPPAN NAIR, 66 YEARS, KOOTTAPANA TEMPLE ROAD, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 63. RESALAMMA,W/O.LATE SUNDARESAN, 56 YEARS, S.R.NIVAS, NATTARATHALA, CHAVADINADA, VENGANOOR POST. 64. C.RAJAPPAN, S/O.CHELLAPPAN PILLAI, 61 YEARS, RAJEEVAM, UDIYANKULANGARA, DHANUVACHAPURAM POST. 65. M.MADHUSOODANAN, S/O.MADHAVAN, KRISHNA MANDIRAM, KAMUKINCODU,VENPAKAL POST. 66. KANAKAMMA,W/O.LATE C. SASI, 60 YEARS, SUJA BHAVAN, BHAGAVATHY NADA, BALARAMAPURAM POST. 67. K.OMANA AMMA,W/O.SADASIVAN NAIR, 62 YEARS, ANANDHA SREE, VAZHUTHOOR, NEYYATTINNKARA POST. 68. N.SOLOMAN, S/O.SAHARIAYA, 62 YEARS, KANJIRAMVILA VEEDU, PERUMPAZHUTHOOR POST. 69. P.KUTTAPPAN, S/O.PADMANABHAN, 61 YEARS, ROHINI, POTHANCODU, NELLIMOODU POST. 70. N.CHELLAPPAN, S/O.NESAMANI, 62 YEARS, PLANKUNNUVILA PUTHEN VEEDU, THIRUVARAMBU POST. 71. P.SREEKANTAN NAIR, S/O.PADMANABHA PILLAI, 62 YEARS, PARVATHY VILASAM, VELLAMCODU, CHITHERAL POST. ...6/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -6- 72. S.SATHYADAS, S/O.SAMUVEL, AGED 60 YEARS, INSAR NIVAS, ASIRWATH NAGAR, BATHELPURAM, NEYYOOR. 73. PRAMEELA,W/O.LATE SAHADEVAN, 58 YEARS, ANGALI, KIZHAKKEVILA VEEDU, VENGANOOR. 74. V.KRISHNAN, S/O.VELAYUDHA PANICKER, 69 YEARS, MAMA,VAZHUTHOOR, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 75. K.TITUS, S/O.KURISHUMUTHU NADAR, 67 YEARS, T.K.BHAVAN, KUNNUVILA, VLANTHANKARA, CHANKAL POST. 76. R.APPUKUTTAN PILLAI, S/O.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI, 66 YEARS, MOOLAYIL VEEDU, ARAYOOR, MARIYAPURAM POST. 77. S.MANY, S/O.SAMUVEL, 65 YEARS, KATHUVILA, THADETHARIKATHU VEEDU, KOOVALASSERY POST. 78. K.KUTTAPPAN NAIR, S/O.KESAVAN NAIR, 68 YEARS, PADMA VILASAM, MAVUVILA, PERUMPAZHUTHOOR POST. 79. K.P.SAINULUDEEN, S/O.KUDIKHAN SAHIB, 67 YEARS, RABI MANZIL, NEAR MOSQUE, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 80. P.BALACHANDRAN NAIR, S/O.PATCHEN PILLAI, 65 YEARS, HARI SREE, VENGANOOR, VENGANOOR POST. 81. S.RAJAPPAN NAIR, S/O.SANKARA PILLAI, 66 YEARS, PRIYA BHAVAN, PANNARETHALA, PERUMPAZHUTHOOR POST. 82. P.KRISHNAN, S/O.PATCHEN, 62 YEARS, UTHERA, VEZHUTHOOR, NEYYATTINKARA. 83. K.VELEPPAN, S/O.KRISHNAN, 62 YEARS, SHYLAJA VIHAR, VELLAR, KOVALAM POST. 84. K.RAJAYYAN NADAR, S/O.KOCHUKUNJAN NADAR, 65 YEARS, KANNARA MELE INDUKKALA BHAVAN, PAYATHUVILA POST. 85. N.RAMASWAMY, S/O.NARAYANAN, 66 YEARS, SAROJ BHAVAN, MADATHUVILAKAM, VEZHUTHOOR, NEYYATTINKARA. ...7/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -7- 86. K.GOPALAKRISHNAN NAIR, S/O.KUTTAN PILLAI, 66 YEARS, PAURNAMY, NARAYANAPURAM, AMARAVILA POST. 87. P.KRISHNAN NAIR, S/O.PARAMESWARAN PILLAI 65 YEARS, KURICHIYIL MELA KRISHNA NIVAS, OORUTTUKALA, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 88. V.RETNAKARAN NAIR, S/O.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR, 66 YEARS, SREE NILAYAM, KOOTTAPPANA, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 89. A.VINCENT, S/O.APPIYAM, 71 YEARS, VALIYAPULLIGAL ARAPPURA VEEDU, THIRUPURAM POST. 90. B.NARAYANA PILLAI, S/O.BALAKRISHNAPILLAI, 66 YEARS, INDHU BHAVAN, RAMESWARAM, AMARAVILA POST. 91. R.SUKUMARAN, S/O.RAGHAVAN, 64 YEARS, VIMALA VIHAR, NEW LINE, VELLAYANIMUKKU, NEMAM. 92. K.SASIDHARAN NAIR, S/O.KRISHNAPILLAI, 65 YEARS, SISIRAM, STUDIO ROAD, NEMAM ESTATE POST. 93. J.ANTHROSE, S/O.ATHICHAN NADAR, 67 YEARS, SHERLY NIVAS, PARUTHIVILA, ARAYOOR POST. 94. J.T.JAPASING, S/O.THEODORE, 63 YEARS, THEODORE VILLA, KANJIRAMKULAM POST. 95. J.SANTHA, W/O.N.VISWANATHAN, 62 YEARS, SANTHALAYAM, AURA 19, NEAR GOVT. HOSPITAL, BALARAMAPURAM. 96. R.SUKUMARAN NAIR, S/O.RAGHAVAN PILLAI, 64 YEARS, SARADHA NIVAS, ANCODU, PERUMKADAVILA POST. 97. D.POULOSE, S/O.DANIEL, 61 YEARS, SMITHA BHAVAN, PARANIYYAM, POOVAR POST. 98. K.NARAYANAN, S/O.KESAVAN, 61 YEARS, PLANKALA VEEDU, ARUVIPURAM POST. 99. P.PRABHAKARAN NAIR, S/O.PADMANABHA PILLAI, 63 YEARS, PRASANTH BHAVAN, MARUTHOOR KONAM, KOTTUKAL POST. ...8/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -8- 100. N.SASIDHARAN NAIR, S/O.NARAYANA PILLAI, 61 YEARS, EDAVOOR MADATHIL VEEDU, NADOORKOLLA, AMARAVILA POST. 101. P.SEKHARAN NAIR, S/O.PARAMESWARAN NAIR, 61 YEARS, ROADARIKATHUVEEDU, ARUVIKKARA, KOOVALASSERI POST. 102. P.SURENDRAN, S/O.PARAMESWARAN, 67 YEARS, SANTHINIKETHAN, PERUMPAZHUTHOOR POST, NEYYATTINKARA. 103. F.JAYACHANDRAN, S/O.FRANCIS, 61 YEARS, JYOTHIS, VADAKODU, KOOTTAPPANA, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 104. R.GOVINDAN NAIR, S/O.RAMAN PILLAI, 62 YEAS, JAYANILAYAM, MOTTACHIVILA, UCHAKKADA POST. 105. G.JUSTIN, S/O.A.JEORGE, 61 YEARS, THEJAS BHAVAN, PALLIVILAKAM, VADAKODU, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 106. V.SUKUMARANKUTTY, S/O.VASUDEVAN, 61 YEARS, SREERENGAM, ADUMANGADU, PARASSUVAIKAL POST. 107. R.SULOCHANA, W/O.LATE L.KRISHNAN NADAR, 62 YEARS, VINOD BHAVAN, ATHIYANOOR, ARALUMOODU POST. 108. K.GOPINATHAN NAIR, S/O.KUTTAN PILLAI, 61 YEARS, GOPIKA, THIRUPURAM, KANJAMPAZHINJI POST. 109. A.THANKAPPAN, S/O.ANTHONI PILLAI, 62 YEARS, KOTTAMVILAKAM VEEDU, R C STREET, BALARAMAPURAM. 110. K.SIVASASI, S/O.VELAYUDHA PANICKER, 61 YEARS, THOTTATHUMELE PUTHEN VEEDU, MANCHALUMOODU. 111. B.CHANDRASEKHARAN NAIR, S/O.BHASKARA PILLAI, 61 YEARS, DEEPAM, MARAYAMUTTAM POST. 112. C.BALAYAN, S/O.CHELLAPPAN NADAR, 61 YEARS, SACHAI BHAVAN, POOZHANADU POST. ...9/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -9- 113. K.RAGHAVAN, S/O.KESAVAPANICKER, 61 YEARS, UTHRADAM, IRUMBAL KONAM, KIZHAKKUMKARA, MANCHAVILAKAM POST. 114. I.BENADICT, S/O.ISAQ, 68 YEARS, VILAYIL VEEDU, KATTAKADA, POST 115. K.OMANA, W/O.LATE THANKAPPAN, 57 YEARS, AJITH BHAVAN, CHEMBOORU, OTTASEKHARAMANGALAM POST. 116. D.SENSOR, S/O.DANIEL, 69 YEARS, S.B.COTTAGE, CHAMPAYIL, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 117. S.EDWARD, S/O.SAMUVEL, 72 YEARS, CHERUKARI VEEDU, THIRUPURAM, THIRUPURAM POST. 118. K.S.SAMUVEL, S/O.SAMUVEL, 70 YEARS, BIJIN NIVAS, CHOONDUPALAKA, KOTTAKADA POST. 119. P.N.THANKAPPAN NAIR, S/O.NARAYANAN THAMPI, 70 YEARS, INDIRA BHAVAN, VENKADAMBU, KULATHOOR, UTCHAKADA POST. 120. P.SEKHARAN, S/O.PONNAN, 69 YEARS, THRIVENI, NARUVAMMOODU, NARUVAMMOODU POST. 121. K.SIVANANDAN NADAR, S/O.KRISHNAN NADAR, 67 YEARS, SHINE NIVASA, THANGAL, NELLIMOODU POST. 122. C.SUKUMARAN, S/O.K.CHOKKALINGAM ASSARI, 69 YEARS, SARASALAYAM, VIVEKANANDA NAGAR, SANTHIVILA, NEMOM POST. 123. K.MADHAVAN, S/O.KOCHUKUNJU PANICKER, 68 YEARS, VALSALA SADANAM, RAMAPURAM, THANIMMODU POST. 124. E.THAMPIKUNJAN, S/O.ESRAYEL USHES, 68 YEARS, CHANI, KANJIRAMKULAM POST. 125. VICTORIYA, W/O.LATE GERSHON VALSALAM, 62 YEARS, AJI BHAVAN, KUNNUVILA, THOZHUKKAL, NEYYATTINKARA POST. 126. J.APPU, S/O.JOSEPH, 70 YEARS, A.S.BHAVAN, ANAVOOR, ANAVOOR POST. ...10/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) -10- 127. B.CHANDRA BABU, S/O.BALAKRISHNAN, 72 YEARS, SAYANA, ARUMANOOR, POOVAR POST. 128. P.K.PONNAMMA, W/O.VIJAYADHARAN, 72 YEARS, VIJAYA NIVAS, AIYUROOR, PERUMKADAVILA POST. 129. A.DASAN, S/O.ANOSE, 61 YEARS, KAVITHA BHAVAN, VARUVILA, ARUMANOOR, POOVAR POST. 130. C.SARADA, W/O.THANKAPPAN, 70 YEARS, AMOOLYA, PACHAKKAD, KUTTICHEL POST. 131. M.A.MARYKUTTY, W/O.M.C.GEORGE, 68 YEARS, MARATHUKUNNEL HOUSE, KADAPLAMATTAM POST, KOTTAYAM DIST. 132. BABY FRANCIS, S/O.FRENCHI VARKY, 68 YEARS, THAMPAKASSERY KOIYCKAL, MANNACKANADU POST, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. BY ADVS. SMT.T.D.RAJALAKSHMI SRI.R.SREEHARI RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- 1. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VYDYUTHI BHAVAN, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 004 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT (DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 035. 3. THE APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUTITY ACT (REGIONAL JOINT LABOUR COMMISSIONER) KOLLAM, CIVIL STATION KOLLAM-691 001. R1 BY ADV. SRI. K.S. ANIL, SC, KSEB R2 & R3 BY GOVT. PLEADER SRI. BASANT BALAJI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 16/06/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Mn ...11/- WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 35/04 AND OTHERS DT. 26-10-2005. EXT.P2 : -DO- -DO- IN GC. NOS. 245/04, 246/04 ETC. DATED 9-12-2005. EXT.P3 : DO- -DO- IN GC. NO. 245/04 AND OTHERS DATED 16-1-2006. EXT.P4 : DO- -DO- IN GC. NO. 501/04 AND OTHERS DATED 25-1-2006. EXT.P5 : DO- -DO- IN GC. NO. 555/04 AND OTHERS DATED 28-2-2006. EXT.P6 : DO- -DO- IN GC. NO. 692/04 AND OTHERS DATED 28-2-2006. EXT.P7 : DO- -DO- IN GC. NO. 719/04 AND OTHERS DATED 30-6-2006. EXT.P8 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 770/04 AND OTHERS DT. 28-7-2006. EXT.P9 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 878/04 AND OTHERS DT. 28-7-2006. EXT.P10 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 256/05 AND OTHERS DT. 3-4-2007. EXT.P11 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 90/05 AND OTHERS DT. 3-11-2006. EXT.P12 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 308/05 AND OTHERS DT. 27-4-2007. EXT.P13 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 239/06 AND OTHERS DT. 30-5-2007. EXT.P14 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 195/06 ETC. DT. 30-7-2007. EXT.P15 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 149/07 ETC. DT. 30-11-2007. EXT.P16 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 253/07 ETC. DT. 31-12-07. (Contd...) WP(C).No. 16111 of 2011(L) EXT.P17 : PHOTO COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT IN GC NO. 253/07 ETC. DT. 31-12-07. EXT.P18 : PHOTOCOPY OF THE LAWYER NOTICE DT. 25-10-2010 SENT ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONERS. EXT.P19 : PHOTOCOPY OF THE ORDER NO. PSI(A)/GRATUITY/3250/09/2551 DT. 28-9- 2010 PASSED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT. EXT.P20 : PHOTOCOPY OF THE ORDER BO(FB) NO. 1313/2011 (PSI/GRATUITY/TVPM/2006/DATED 24-5-2011 OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS - NIL //TRUE COPY// P.A. TO JUDGE Mn P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 16111 OF 2011 -------------------------- Dated this the 16th day of June, 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. The said orders were confirmed by the appellate authority, which dismissed the appeals filed by the Board. 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 WPC No.16111/2011 2 by the Controlling Authority has not been deposited so far. In this writ petition, the petitioners seek an order directing 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 WPC No.16111/2011 3 respective due dates till the date of deposit of the principal amount. I accordingly dispose of the writ petition with the following directions: (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 P17 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