IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN THURSDAY, THE 31ST JULY 2008 / 9TH SRAVANA 1930 WP(C).No. 21068 of 2008(G) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ 1. T.PRAMEELA, W/O.LATE K.V.NARAYANANKUTTY, THONDIKKATTIL HOUSE, POST PANANGATTUKARA PIN: 680 623 THRISSUR DISTRICT. 2. LILLY ANTONY, W/O.LATE O.J.GEORGE, SREEPADAM APARTMENT, MARATH LANE, M.G.ROAD, THRISSUR - 1. 3. M.P.LISSY, W/O.LATE C.L.JACOB, CHITTILAPPILLY HOUSE, KOTTEKKAD, POST KUTTUR PIN: 680 013. 4. M.SREEDHARAN, S/O.NARAYANAN NAMBOODIRI, AISWARYA, H.NO.T.C. 50/374, MARAMITTATH MANA, POST AYYANTHOLE, THRISSUR 680 003. 5. S.NAMBI RAJAN, S/O.P.SUBRAMANYA IYER, 'DILHAN' TC 1/200, PUSHPAGIRI GRAMAM, POST POOMKUNNAM, THRISSUR 680 002. BY ADV. SMT.T.D.RAJALAKSHMI SRI.E.R.VENKATESWARAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VYDHYUTHI BHAVANAM, PATTAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY ACT (DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER), THRISSUR. BY ADV. SRI.P.P.THAJUDEEN, SC, K.S.E.B FOR R1 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 31/07/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P.(C).No.21068 of 2008 ================== Dated this the 31st day of July, 2008 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are retired employees of the Kerala State Electricity Board. They obtained orders from the Controlling Authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act for payment of gratuity. The grievance of the petitioners in this writ petition is that the amounts ordered by the Controlling Authority are not being paid to the petitioners. 2. The learned Standing Counsel for the KSEB submits that the KSEB is contemplating filing of appeals against the orders of the Controlling Authority and therefore, according to him, the gratuity amounts cannot now be paid. I find that the orders of the Controlling Authority have been passed more than an year ago. That being so, I do not think that payment of gratuity can be prolonged further. Even after payment, the respondents, if they so choose, can file appeals. Therefore, the respondents are directed to deposit the gratuity amount with interest as per the orders of the Controlling Authority with the w.p.c.21068/08 2 Controlling Authority within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. It would be open to the petitioners to apply to the Controlling Authority for disbursal of the amounts, in the event of which, the Controlling Authority shall pass orders in accordance with law. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge