IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 11TH APRIL 2008 / 22ND CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 12988 of 2008(U) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ 1. RENJAN.B, EX-ASSISTANT MANAGER-VFPCK,KALEELIL VEEDU MULLUVILA, VADAKKEVILA P.O.,KOLLAM 691 010 2. SREEKUMAR NAIR.S, EX-ASSISTANT MANAGER-VFPCK,KALABHAVAN, ARAMPUNNA, ELAMPAL P.O.,PUNALUR 691 322 3. PRAMOD..M.S. EX-ASSISTANT MANAGER-VFPCK,KUDAVATHOOR P.O. ODANAVATTOM, KOLLAM 691 512 4. SUNIL.K., EX-ASSISTANT MANAGER-VFPCK, SANEETHA, KATCHERY WARD,HOSPITAL JUNCTION NEYYATTINKARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM BY ADV. SRI.MANOJ RAMASWAMY RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. VEGETABLE AND FRUIT PROMOTION COUNCIL KERALAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MYTHRI BHAVAN, KAKKANAD KOCHI 682 037 2. THE DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER (CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT) DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICE, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM 3. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT LABOUR & REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM G.P. SHRI.A.J.VARGHESE THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11/04/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P.(C).No. 12988 of 2008 ================== Dated this the 11st day of April, 2008 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are retired employees of the 1st respondent employer. They filed Ext.P5 series of applications under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, before 2nd respondent seeking settlement of the dispute between the petitioners and the 1st respondent for gratuity. Petitioners' contention is that although the applications were filed in June, 2007, nothing has been done by the 2nd respondent in the matter, not even notice has been issued to the 1st respondent, is the allegation of the petitioners. 2. I have heard the learned Government Pleader also. 3. When applications under the Payment of Gratuity Act are filed, the 2nd respondent has a duty to deal with the same expeditiously. Accordingly, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the 2nd respondent to number Ext.P5 series of applications filed by the petitioners and to issue notice to the parties within one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, and to dispose of those applications as expeditiously as possible. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge 2