IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN THURSDAY, THE 15TH OCTOBER 2009 / 23RD ASWINA 1931 WP(C).No. 26961 of 2009(M) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. APPUKUTTY P., AGED 61, PUTHIYOTTIL HOUSE, EDAKKAD P.O., KOZHIKODE. 2. T.BALAN, AGED 60, THIRUMUMBIL HOUSE, P.O.THALAKKULATHUR, KOZHIKODE. 3. P.M.SUDHAKARAN, AGED, 'KARTHIKA', PANATHIL MEETHAL HOUSE, MARIKUNNU P.O., KOZHIKODE. 4. M.BALACHANDRAN NAIR, AGED 69, 'SITHARA', CIVIL STATION P.O., ERANHIPALAM, KOZHIKODE. 5. K.LEELA, AGED 65, 'SITHARA', CIVIL STATION P.O., ERANHIPALAM, KOZHIKODE. 6. P.GOVINDAN NAMBISAN, AGED 63, 'DEVALAYAM', WEST HILL P.O., KOZHIKODE. 7. A.VISWANATHAN, AGED 68, 'RAJAGIRI', THIRUVANNUR NADA, KOZHIKODE. 8. P.PADMAVATHI, AGED 66, 'SUSARA', KSEB STAFF COLONY, PAVANGAD, KOZHIKODE. BY ADV. SRI.S.K.SAJU SRI.A.RANJITH NARAYANAN RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT, REGIONAL JOINT LABOUR COMMISSIONER, CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE. 2. CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT, DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE. 3. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, VYDYUTHI BHAVANAM, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. K.C. SANTHOSH KUMAR. ADV. SRI. P.P. THAJUDDIN, S.C THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 15/10/2009, ALONG WITH WPC NO. 27869 OF 2009 WPC NO. 27513 OF 2009 THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. Siri Jagan, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= W. P (C) Nos. 26961, 27513, & 27869 of 2009 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this, the 15th October, 2009. J U D G M E N T In all these three cases, the petitioners raise a grievance that amounts of gratuity deposited by the Kerala State Electricity Board with the authorities under the Payment of Gratuity Act are not being disbursed to the petitioners. The learned Government Pleader submitted that the gratuity amounts were not disbursed only because the Electricity Board issued a letter stating that there is a stay from the Supreme Court regarding the disbursement of gratuity. Therefore, I specifically directed the standing counsel for the Kerala State Electricity Board to inform this Court as to whether there is a stay in respect of any of the cases involved in these three writ petitions. 2. Today, the learned standing counsel submitted that although a Special Leave Petition is pending before the Supreme Court in another case, in which there is a stay, as far as these three cases are concerned, there is no stay. That being so, there is no impediment for the authorities under the Payment of Gratuity Act to release the gratuity amounts deposited with them to the petitioners in these three writ petitions. Such disbursal shall be within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The writ petitions are disposed of as above. Sd/- S. Siri Jagan, Judge. Tds/ [True copy] P.S to Judge.