IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI MONDAY, THE 7TH APRIL 2008 / 18TH CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 25795 of 2007(U) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ S. GOPALAKRISHNAN POTTI, AGED 54 YEARS, S/O. SUBBARAYAN POTTI, SRI. KAILAS, TC.13/2091-3, MEDICAL COLLEGE P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, WORKING AS JOINT DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONERATE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.P.VIJAYA BHANU SRI.M.GEORGE THOMAS RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE SECRETARY, KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. THE CHAIRPERSON, DPC (HIGHER), RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT & MEMBER, KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. ANANDAPADMANABHA PILLAI, ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR, STATE INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT, E.T.C.(PO), KOTTARAKKARA. 6. T.A. ABDUL SALAM, ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONER (UNDER SUSPENSION), KERALA TOTAL SANITATION AND HEALTH SOCIETY, VANROSE JUNCTION, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. NANDAKUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 07/04/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C).No. 25795 of 2007 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS EXT.P1- TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DECLARING PROBATION OF THE PETITIONER- G.O.(Rt).nO.1814/2006/LSGD DATED 1.8.2006. EXT.P2- TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION NO.1698/EA3/2005/LSGD DATED 16.3.2005 IN THE GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY NO.556 DATED 16.3.2005 EXT.P3- TRUE COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE DEPARTMENTAL PROMOTION COMMITTEE (HIGHER) FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HELD ON 15.3.2005 EXT.P4- TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER G.O.(Rt).NO.3909/2005/LSGD DATED 20.9.2005 EXT.P5- TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(Rt).NO.1531/06/LSGD DATED 28.6.2006. EXT.P6- TRUE COPY OF THE REVIEW PETITION DATED 21.7.2006 PREFERRED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE HON'BLE MINISTER FOR LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT. EXT.P7- TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(Rt).NO.2675/2006/LSGD DATED 27.10.2006. EXT.P8- TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION NO.8290/EA3/LSGD DATED 27.12.2006 EXT.P8(a)- TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(Rt).NO.148/2007/LSGD DATED 12.1.2007 EXT.P9- TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ADHOC D.P.C. HELD ON 13.1.2007 EXT.P10- TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION NO.8290/EA3/2006/LSGD DATED 27.2.2007 EXT.P11- TRUE COPY OF THE MEMO OF CHARGES NO.9899/EB4/2000/LSGD ALONG WITH THE STATEMENT OF ALLEGATION DATED 8.1.2001 EXT.P12- TRUE COPY OF THE REPORT OF THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KANNUR EXT.P13- TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(Rt).NO.3139/2002/LSGD DATED 14.11.2002 EXT.P14- TRUE TYPED COPY OF THE G.O.(Rt).NO.241/2000/VIG.DATED 16.10.2000 EXT.P15- THE TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(Rt).163/2002/VIG.DATED 25.7.2002 EXT.P16- THE G.O.(Rt).nO.1037/2003/LSGD DATED 22.3.2003 EXT.P17- TRUE COPY OF LETTER NO.638/2007 WYD. DATED 11.5.2007 OF THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, VIGILANCE AND ANTI CORRUPTION BUREAU, WYD. WP(C).No. 25795 of 2007 -2- EXT.P18- TRUE COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION NO.8290/EA3/2006/LSGD DATED 27.2.2007 EXT.P19- TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER DATED 29.3.2007 IN W.P.(C). NO.10900/2007 EXT.20- TRUE COPY OF G.O.(Rt).NO.1402/2007/LSGD DATED 9.5.2007 EXT.21- TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(Rt).NO.1980/2007 LSGD DATED 20.7.2007 PROMOTING THEM EXT.P22- TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(MS).NO.76/06/GAD DATED 17.2.2006 (TRUE COPY) P.A TO JUDGE V.GIRI, J ------------------- W.P.(C).25795/2007 -------------------- Dated this the 7th day of April, 2008 JUDGMENT I heard learned counsel on both sides. Learned counsel for the petitioner points out, with reference to paragraph 11 of the counter affidavit, that the delay in finalizing the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner was on account of the refusal on his part to pay the penal interest of the HRA due from him. It is submitted that subsequently the said penal interest has been remitted. In view of the averments contained in paragraph 4 of the affidavit in support of I.A.4764/2008, writ petition is disposed of directing the second respondent to finalize the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. V.GIRI, Judge mrcs