IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.R.RAMACHANDRA MENON WEDNESDAY, THE 2ND NOVEMBER 2011 / 11TH KARTHIKA 1933 WP(C).No. 26752 of 2011(T) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------------- A.M.ASHOK KUMAR, (RETIRED ASSISTANT CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, HINDUSTAN NEWSPRINT LIMITED UNIT, VELLOOR), 'MIDHILA', KANJIRAPPALLAM, AYYANTHOLE P.O., THRISSUR - 3. BY ADVS. SRI.S.P.ARAVINDAKSHAN PILLAY SMT.N.SANTHA SRI.K.A.BALAN SRI.PETER JOSE CHRISTO SRI.S.A.ANAND RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------ 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, FOREST DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695 001. 2. PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, FOREST HEADQUARTERS, VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695 014. 3. CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (ADMINISTRATION), FOREST HEADQUARTERS, VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM PIN - 695 014. R3 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.E.M.ABDUL KHADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 02/11/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: vk WP(C).No. 26752 of 2011(T) --------------------------------------- APPENDIX ------------- PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS ----------------------------------- EXT.P-1 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B7.5721/05 DATED 23.4.2005 OF THE ADDITIONAL PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS. EXT.P-2 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B7/5721/05 DATED 14.12.2005 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P-3 TRUE COPY OF THE MEMO OF CHARGES NO.3428/A1/11/FOREST DATED 30.3.2011 WITH THE STATEMENT OF ALLEGATIONS APPENDED. EXT.P-4 TRUE COPY OF THE EXPLANATION DATED 2.5.2011 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER TO EXT.P3. EXT.P-5 TRUE COPY OF THE GOVERNMENT MEMO OF CHARGES NO.11546/A1/10/FOREST DATED 8.2.2011 EXT.P-6 TRUE COPY OF THE EXPLANATIOIN DATED 4.7.2011 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER TO EXT.P5 EXT.P-7 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER NO.B7-5721/2005 DATED 12.10.2009 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. EXT.P-8 TRUE COPY OF THE GOVERNMENT LETTER NO.11714/A1/06/F & WLD DATED 23.7.2010. EXT.P-9 TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGEMENT DATED 21.11.2008 IN WPC NO.17181/2008-U OF THIS HON'BLE COURT. EXT.P-10 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.B7-5721/2005 DATED 15.10.2009 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS : NIL ----------------------------------------- / TRUE COPY / P.A. TO JUDGE VK P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, J. .............................................. W.P.(C).NO.26752 OF 2011 ............................................. Dated this the 2nd day of November, 2011. JUDGMENT The petitioner was working as an Assistant Conservator of Forests, who retired from the service on attaining the age of superannuation on 31.3.2011. However, while in service, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him, way back on 23.4.2005, as per Exts.P1 and was later served with Ext.P3 memorandum of charges. On receipt of the charge memo, the petitioner submitted Ext.P4 explanation. Subsequently, the petitioner was served with another charge memo dated 8.2.2011 (Ext.P5) in response to which, the petitioner has submitted Ext.P6 explanation. 2. Grievance of the petitioner is that the petitioner is still left in the dark, without any finality to the disciplinary proceedings and that the retirement benefits payable to the petitioner have been withheld in view of the callous inaction on the part of respondents, which is sought to be intercepted in this writ petition. 3. Heard learned Government Pleader as well. 4. Considering the limited nature of the relief sought W.P.(C).NO.26752 OF 2011 : 2 : for, this Court does not find it necessary to go into the merits of the case. The respondents are directed to take necessary steps to finalise the disciplinary proceedings pursuant to Ext.P3 and P5 and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within five months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The petitioner shall co-operate with the disciplinary proceedings without getting the same protracted and to have a finality at the earliest. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Sd/- P.R. RAMACHANDRA MENON, JUDGE. cl