THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No. 15233 OF 2008 O R D E R: The petitioner was employed as a driver in the APSRTC. He retired from service on 29.2.2008. He was removed from service on 19.4.1999, and was reinstated on 6.12.2005, on the basis of an award passed by the Labour Court in I.D.No.124 of 2003. The respondents extended the benefits to the petitioner, including the gratuity for his entire service, excluding the period, during which he was out of service. The petitioner contends that the Labour Court awarded continuity of service, and in that view of the matter, he is entitled to be paid gratuity for the said period. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. This court examined the issue, as to the entitlement of the employees to be paid gratuity for the period, during which they were out of service, in case the Labour Court awarded continuity of service, in M. RAMA RAO v. ASST. TRAFFIC MANAGER, APSRTC [1]. It was held that for all practical purposes, the employee should be deemed to have been in continuous service all through, and he is entitled for the gratuity, for the period, during which he was out of service. Following the same, the writ petition is allowed, and the respondents are directed to pay the gratuity to the petitioner, within a period of six weeks, from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________ 17th July 2008 PAN [1] 1998(3) ALD 76