IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC FRIDAY, THE 20TH NOVEMBER 2009 / 29TH KARTHIKA 1931 WP(C).No. 26563 of 2009(M) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- SASI THOMAS, ASSISTANT ENGINEER KSEB, (RETD) PAZHEMPALLY HOUSE GRACE VILLA, SANTHIGRAM, PADNAKKAD PO, KASARAGOD. BY ADV. SRI.SOJAN MICHEAL RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE SECRETARY KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, VYDYUTHI BHAVAN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER ELECTRICAL CIRCLE, KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD, KASARAGOD. ADV. SRI.K.S.ANIL, SC, KSEB FOR R2 SRI. ASOK M.CHERIYAN, SC, KSEB FOR R1 & R2 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20/11/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ------------------------- W.P.(C.) No.26563 of 2009 --------------------------------- Dated, this the 20th day of November, 2009 J U D G M E N T The claim raised in this writ petition is for release of terminal benefits due to the petitioner. 2. The petitioner retired from service as Assistant Engineer on 31/10/2008, and even now his terminal benefits have not been released. Reason disclosed in the statement filed by the 2nd respondent is that on the allegation that the petitioner had assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, a case was registered and his house was raided and that the petitioner was arrested and remanded to judicial custody. It is stated that the case is still pending before the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau. It is also stated that following his remand in the judicial custody, memo of charges was also issued to the petitioner and the petitioner had submitted his reply. The reason stated by the 2nd respondent for the delay in the disbursement of his terminal benefit is the pendency of the Vigilance proceedings and the disciplinary WP(C) No.26563/2009 -2- proceedings. 3. Having regard to the pendency of these proceedings, I feel appropriate order, which is required to be passed at this stage is that the vigilance enquiry and the proceedings initiated against him should be expedited and completed. Since the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau is not a party to this writ petition, it is directed that it is open to the petitioner to move the Director of Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau for an expeditious completion of the enquiry, in which case necessary steps for completion of the enquiry shall be initiated and the enquiry shall be completed on an expeditious basis. Depending upon the finality of the proceedings, the claim of the petitioner for release of his terminal benefits will be considered. This writ petition is disposed of as above. (ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE) jg