IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J.B.KOSHY & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.P.BALACHANDRAN MONDAY, THE 11TH AUGUST 2008 / 20TH SRAVANA 1930 WA.No. 810 of 2005 ----------------------- AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT IN OP.23642/2000 Dated 01/10/2004 .................... APPELLANT: PETITIONERS 1 TO 12,15 TO 22, 24, 26 TO 30: ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. P.V. RAMACHANDRAN, SECRETARY, THE HOSDURG SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE BANK LIMITED NO.C.1068, HOSDURG P.O., KANHANGAD. 2. K.KAMALAKSHAN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 3. P.K.NARAYANAN NAIR, CHIEF ACCOUNTANT, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 4. P.KAMALAKSHI, BRANCH MANAGER, H.S.C.BANK LTD., PADNEKAT BRANCH. 5. K.V.KUNHIKANNAN, ACCOUNTANT, H.S.C.BANK LTD., ARANAGADI BRANCH. 6. H.GOPALAKRISHNAN, ACCOUNTANT, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 7. P.V.BALAKRISHNAN, S.CLERK, H.S.C.BANK LTD., PADNEKAT BRANCH. 8. S.K.SHABAN SAHAB, ACCOUNTANT, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 9. K.V.SUMATHI, ACCOUNTANT, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 10. H.R.RAVINDRANATH RAO, S.CLERK, H.S.C.BANK LTD., ARANGADI BRANCH. 11. H.R.RAVINDRANATH, S.CLERK, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 12. H.K.DAMODARA, S.CLERK, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 13. N.SATHEESH KAMATH, TYPIST, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 14. H.ASHALATHA, J.CLERK, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 15. PRASANNALATHA, J.CLERK, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 16. K.P.HASEEMA, J.CLERK, H.S.C.BANK LTD., ARANGADI BRANCH. 17. H.R.PRADEEP KUMAR, J.CLERK, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 18. K.ANITHA, J.CLERK, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 19. K.RAMESHAN, J.CLERK, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 20. M.V.SAKUNTHALA, J.CLERK, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 21. V.V.GEETHA, J.CLERK, H.S.C. BANK LTD., PADNEKAT BRANCH. 22. H.V.PRATHAPA, ATTENDER, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 23. H.NAVEENDHANDRA KINI, HG.ATTENDER, H.S.C. BANK LTD., PADNEKAT BRANCH. 24. M.RAVI, ATTENDER, H.S.C.BANK LTD., ARNGADI BRANCH. 25. K.V.SUKUMARAN, ATTENDER, H.S.C.BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. 26. V.GIRIJA, ATTENDER, H.S.C. BANK LTD., KANHANGAD. BY ADV. SRI.A.DINESH RAO RESPONDENTS: RESPONDENTS IN O.P.: --------------------------------- 1. REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, TRIVANDRUM. 2. JOINT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, KASARAGOD. 3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HODGURG SERVICE CO-OP.BANK LTD., NO.C.1068, HOSDURG, P.O.KANHANGAD, REP. BY THE PRESIDENT. R3 BY ADV SRI.V.N.RAMESAN NAMBISAN THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 11/08/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: J.B. KOSHY & K.P. BALACHANDRAN, JJ. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Writ Appeal No 810 of 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dated this the 11th August 2008 JUDGMENT Koshy,J. Appellants-petitioners were employees in Co-operative Bank which was running in profit. How the profits should be divided is mentioned in Ext. P3 bye-laws. Registrar of Co-operative Societies issued Ext P4 Circular saying that bye-laws will be applicable only if the Society is not covered under the Payment of Bonus Act. It is the case of the petitioners that all employees were outside the purview of the Bonus Act because of the high salary they have received and therefore the said Act is not applicable as they were getting more than the required amount during 1997-1998. If Bonus Act is not applicable as held in the judgment in O.P. No 3197 of 1998 dated 15.10.2003, the bye-laws will automatically be applicable and profits of the society, if it is running in profit, has to be distributed as provided WA 810/05 2 in Ext P3 and Ext P4 Circular will not stand in the way and bonus has to be paid as per Ext. P3. The writ appeal is allowed to the above extent. Sd/- J.B. KOSHY Judge Sd/- K.P. BALACHANDRAN Judge 11/08/2008 en [true copy]