IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN MONDAY, THE 13TH DECEMBER 2010 / 22ND AGRAHAYANA 1932 WP(C).No. 37084 of 2010(I) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- P.O. VARKEY, PATHICKAL HOUSE, BLOCK NO.139, KALLAR.P.O., IDUKKI DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.V.P.SUKUMAR RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCIAL TAXES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT TAXES (D) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. GOVT. PLEADER SHRI.ANTONY MUKKATH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13/12/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P.(C).No.37084 of 2010 ================== Dated this the 13th day of December, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioner was a Commercial Tax Inspector in the service of the Government of Kerala, who had been suspended from service on the charges of some misconduct on 8.6.2004. On 27.2.2005, the petitioner was reinstated in service pending disciplinary proceedings. Thereafter, on 6.1.2007, Ext.P3 memo of charges was issued to the petitioner. The petitioner submitted Ext.P4 statement of defence. In the meanwhile, the petitioner retired from service on 31.1.2007. The 2nd respondent issued Ext.P5 show cause notice proposing to impose on the petitioner the punishment of reduction in pension of the petitioner by ` 500/- per month. The petitioner submitted Ext.P6 reply seeking dropping of the proceedings, as according to him, he is innocent of the charges leavelled against him. Again on 7.2.2010, the petitioner was served with another show cause notice for the same purpose. The petitioner submitted Ext.P8 reply again requesting dropping of the proceedings on the ground that he was innocent of the charges levelled against him. The petitioner has now filed this writ petition seeking the following reliefs: “i. to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order directing the 2nd respondent to finalize the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner within a time limit to be fixed by this Hon'ble Court. w.p.c.37084/10 2 ii. to issue a writ in the nature of mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order directing the respondents to release DCRG of the petitioner with interest at the rate of 12% from the date of expiry of three years after retirement, within a time limit to (sic) fixed by this Hon'ble Court.” 2. The petitioner now submits that the respondents may be directed to complete the disciplinary proceedings expeditiously. 3. I have heard the learned Government Pleader also. 4. Insofar as the matter is pending for a long time, it is only appropriate that the respondents complete the disciplinary proceedings within a time frame. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to complete the proceedings initiated against the petitioner, which is subject matter of this writ petition, 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