IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN THURSDAY, THE 21ST OCTOBER 2010 / 29TH ASWINA 1932 WP(C).No. 30627 of 2010(C) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. A.K.KURIAN,S/O.KURIAKOSE,AZHAKEDATHU HOUSE,C.N.144,ANGAMALY-683 572. 2. A.P.CHACKO,S/O.PIOUS,ALUKKAPARAMBIL HOUSE,KIDANGOOR.P.O,ANGAMALY-683 572. 3. K.A.REVI,S/O.K.ACHUTHAN,KOOTTUNGAL HOUSE KIDANGOOR.P.O,ANGAMALY-683 572. 4. V.K.RAVEENDRAN,S/O.V.I.KUTTAPPAN, VALLOORAKATH HOUSE,PERUMPADANNA,NEAR ANDISSERI TEMPLE,NORTH PARAVUR-683 513. BY ADV. SRI.WILSON URMESE RESPONDENT(S): --------------- KERALA STATE BAMBOO CORPORATION LIMITED, P.B.NO.20,ANGAMALY SOUTH-683573,REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR. ADV. SRI.K.ANAND (A.201) THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 21/10/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P.(C).No.30627 of 2010 ================== Dated this the 21st day of October, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are retired employees of the Kerala State Bamboo Corporation, which is a Government company owned by the Government of Kerala. They retired from service during 2006 and 2007. Their grievance in this writ petition is that the retirement benefits due to them such as leave surrender salary, DA arrears, special advance pay etc. have not been disbursed to them so far. It is under the above circumstances, the petitioners have filed this writ petition seeking the following reliefs; “(i) Call for the records leading to the case. (ii) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the respondent to release/disburse immediately the retirement benefits and other amounts due to the petitioners, with interest at the rate of 12% per annum for the delayed period.” 2. On instructions, the learned Standing Counsel for the respondent submits that the amounts could not be paid to the petitioners only because of financial stringency of the company. 3. I do not think that the respondent can in the name of the financial stringency go on postponing the payment of the amounts legally due to the petitioners indefinitely. Already about four years have gone by, after the retirement of the petitioners. The only means w.p.c.30627/10 2 of livelihood of the petitioners is their retirement benefits. As such, the respondent cannot postpone payment of the benefits to the petitioners further. Accordingly, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondent to pay all balance benefits due to the petitioners on their retirement including retirement benefits, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge