IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 9TH FEBRUARY 2011 / 20TH MAGHA 1932 WP(C).No. 4092 of 2011(J) ------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- P.SREEDHARAN, AGED 70 YEARS, S/O.CHATHU, SREELAYAM, P.O.KADIRUR, THALASSERY, KANNUR DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.JACOB ABRAHAM SMT.KOCHUMOL KODUVATH RESPONDENT(S): --------------------------- 1. THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT, 1972 (DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, KANNUR), KANNUR. 3. APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE GRATUITY ACT, 1972 AND REGIONAL LABOUR COMMISSIONER, KOZHIKODE. CIVIL STATION, KOZHIKODE. R1 BY ADV.SRI.K.S.ANIL, SC FOR KSEB R2 & R3 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.BASANT BALAJI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/02/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: sts P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. --------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 4092 OF 2011 -------------------------- Dated this the 9th day of February, 2011 J U D G M E N T The petitioner was a former employee of the Kerala State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as 'the Board' for short). He retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation on 31.1.1996. Long thereafter, he filed an application before the second respondent, the Controlling Authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 seeking payment of the sum of Rs.63,275/- as gratuity. By Ext.P1 order passed on 30.4.2007, the second respondent allowed the application and directed the Board to pay the said sum to the petitioner. It appears, the Board filed an appeal GAC No.459 of 2009 before the third respondent, the appellate authority constituted under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The grievance voiced by the petitioner is that till date the appeal has not been disposed of. In this writ petition, the petitioner seeks a direction to the third respondent to dispose of GAC No.459 of 2009 with notice to him expeditiously. 2. Sri.K.S.Anil, the learned standing counsel appering for the Board submits that GAC No.459 of 2009 is still pending before the WPC No.4092/2011 2 third respondent and that the third respondent may be directed to dispose of the said appeal after notice to the appellant and the petitioner herein an opportunity of being heard. In the light of the said submission, I dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the third respondent to dispose of GAC No.459 of 2009 expeditiously and in any event within three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment after notice to and affording the parties to the appeal an opportunity of being heard. P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps WPC No.4092/2011 3 WPC No.4092/2011 4