IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE MR.C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.S.GOPINATHAN TUESDAY, THE 11TH OCTOBER 2011 / 19TH ASWINA 1933 OP (CAT).No. 3247 of 2011(Z) ------------------------------------- AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 12/04/2011 IN OA.573/2011 IN OA.380/2010 of CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL,ERNAKULAM BENCH .................... PETITIONERS ---------------------- 1. UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS, RAIL BHAVAN, NEW DELHI-110 001. 2. THE GENERAL MANAGER, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, HEADQUARTERS OFFICE, PARK TOWN P.O., CHENNAI-600 003. 3. THE SENIOR DIVISIONAL PERSONNEL OFFICER, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, PALGHAT DIVISION, PALGHAT-678 002. BY ADV. SRI.M.C.CHERIAN,SR.SC.,RAILWAYS RESPONDENT(S): ---------------------- 1. T.HAREENDRADAS, S/O.T.NARAYANAN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CCRC OFFICE, SHORNUR, RESIDING AT THEKKETHIL HOUSE, MANJAKKAD, SHORNUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT, KERALA STATE, PIN-679 121. 2. V.S.GANESAN, S/O.V.K.SIVASANKARAN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CCRC OFFICE, SHORNUR, RESIDING AT VELAKKETH HOUSE, ANTHICADU, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN-680 641. 3. R.RAJENDRAPRASAD, S/O.K.RAJAN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CCRC OFFICE, SHORNUR, RESIDING AT KANNATTUVELI, PUNNAPRA P.O., ALLEPPEY DISTRICT, PIN-688 001. 4. K.K.BHAGAVANDHAN, S/O.K.K.KOCHEKKAN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, O/O.SSE (C&W) PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT NO.13, NAKSHATRA, SAGARIKA NAGAR, OPP.TO ST.JOSEPH CHURCH KALLEKULANGARA, PALAKKAD-678 009. 5. BENNY JOSEPH, S/O.P.C.JOSEPH, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CCRC OFFICE, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT PADYATTIL HOUSE, MELEPURAM, OLAVAKKODE P.O., PALGHAT DISTRICT, PIN-678 002. 6. P.N.GEETHAPRIYAN, S/O.P.K.NARAYANAN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CREW BOOKING OFFICE, PALAKKAD, RESIDING AT TRAVANCORE APARTMENT, KALLEKULANGARA P.O., PALAKKAD-678 009. 7. MERIL TIMOTHY, S/O.M.G.TIMOTHY, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CRC OFFICE, CALICUT, RESIDING AT 37/718, VADAKKEMUDAMPATTU PARAMBA, KARUVISSERY P.O., CALICUT-10. 8. K.SADASIVAN, S/O.E.APPUKUTTY CHETTIAR, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CRC OFFICE, CALICUT, RESIDING AT SANMAYAM, EDDASSERY PARAMBIL, METHOTTUTHAZHAM PO, NELLICODE, CALICUT-673 016. 9. ABI K.PAUL, S/O.K.A.PYLAPPAN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CRC OFFICE, SHORNUR, RESIDING AT KONIKKARA HOUSE, SREYAS NAGAR, NADATHARA P.O., THRISSUR, PIN-680 751. 10. BENNY JOHN, S/O.M.J.JOHN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CCRC OFFICE, SHORANUR, RESIDING AT MENACHERY HOUSE, NEAR RAJYA HALL, AJN-40, ANGAMALY P.O., ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN-683 572. 11. P.PREMARAJAN, S/O.P.GOVINDAN, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CREW BOOKING OFFICE, CALICUT, RESIDING AT SOUPARNIKA, POOVATHUR HOUSE, PRAMBATH ROAD, KUNDUPARAMBA, EDAKKAD P.O., CALICUT-673 005. 12. B.RADHAKRISHNAN, S/O.LATE N.G.BALAKRISHNA MENON, LOCO PILOT/PASS/GR.II, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, CCRC OFFICE, SHORNUR JUNCTION, RESIDING AT GURU KRIPA, LOTTARAPPATTU HOUSE, KONATHUKUNNU P.O. THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN-680 123. THIS OP (CAT) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11/10/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: APPENDIX PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1- TRUE COPY OF O.A.380/2010 ALONG WITH ANNEXURES A1 & A3 TO A7 OF CAT/ERNAKULAM. EXHIBIT P2- TRUE COPY OF INTERIM ORDER DATED 19.5.2010 IN O.A.380/2010 OF CAT/ERNAKULAM. EXHIBIT P3- TRUE COPY OF REPLY STATEMENT ALONG WITH ANNEXURES IN O.A.NO.380/2010 OF CAT/ERNAKULAM. EXHIBIT P4- TRUE COPY OF ANNEXURES A1 DATED 24.5.2010 IN O.A.573/2010. EXHIBIT P5- TRUE COPY OF INTERIM ORDER DATED 7.7.2010 IN O.A.573/2010 OF CAT/ERNAKULAM. EXHIBIT P6- TRUE COPY OF COMMON ORDER DATED 12.4.2011 IN O.A.380/2010 AND O.A.573/2010 OF CAT/ERNAKULAM. /TRUE COPY/ PS TO JUDGE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, Ag. CJ. & P.S.GOPINATHAN, J ---------------------------------------------- O.P(CAT).No. 3247 of 2011 ---------------------------------------------- Dated this the 11th day of October, 2011 JUDGMENT Ramachandran Nair, Ag.CJ Challenge is only against that part of the order of the Tribunal interdicting the Railways from recovery of excess salary paid on account of a mistake committed by the Railways itself. It is seen from the Tribunal's order that withdrawal of benefit by the Railways is accepted by the Tribunal. However, the Tribunal felt that recovery of the excess salary paid to the employees may cause hardship to them. We do not find any justification to interfere with the discretionary power exercised by the Tribunal with regard to the benefit already granted and enjoyed by the employees. Consequently, the Original Petition is dismissed. C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE P.S.GOPINATHAN, JUDGE vgs