IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI THURSDAY, THE 12TH JUNE 2008 / 22ND JYAISHTA 1930 WP(C).No. 12391 of 2007(A) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ GOPALA PILLAI, KUZHALETHU VEEDU, MULAMPUZHA KARA, MURI, PANDALAM VILLAGE, PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.K.MADHUSOODHANAN NAIR RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, REP. BY DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, T.D.B. OFFICE, NANTHANCODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF DEVASWOM, T.D.B. OFFICE, PATHANAMTHITTA. BY ADV. SRI.NAGARAJ NARAYANAN, SC, TDB FOR R1 & 2 SRI.D.SREEKUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 12/06/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V.GIRI, J ------------------- W.P.(C).12391/2007 -------------------- Dated this the 12th day of June, 2008 JUDGMENT Petitioner was appointed on a contract basis in the Travancore Devaswom Board in the year 1973. He was later transferred to Malayalapuzha Temple as a Watcher. He submits that he had put in continuous service of four years and two months and was then transferred to Nilackal Mahadeva Temple, wherein he had put in service of three years and four months. According to the petitioner, he had a continuous service from 1975 to 1987. Nevertheless, amounts by way of unpaid wages, provident fund and such other benefits are due to him. 2. Obviously, the petitioner has crossed the age of retirement. If the terminal benefits are due to him relatable to the services which he had rendered, same should be disbursed to him. 3. Learned counsel for the Devaswom Board submits W.P.(C).12391/2007 2 that the petitioner was only a contract employee and therefore he may not be entitled to any retirement benefit as such. In my view, this is a matter that will have to be addressed by the Commissioner in the first instance. 4. Having heard learned counsel on both sides, writ petition is disposed of in the following terms: 5. Petitioner may submit a comprehensive representation detailing this aspect before the Commissioner. If it is done within one month from today, Commissioner shall consider the same in accordance with law and pass orders and take appropriate action within three months thereafter. V.GIRI, Judge mrcs