THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE L. NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION No.7681 of 2010 ORDER: The petitioner was employed as a conductor in the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC). His services were terminated on 26.05.1981 on disciplinary grounds. As a result of the remedies persuaded by the petitioner, he came to be reinstated into service in the year 1988. He retired from service on 31.05.2009. The grievance of the petitioner is that he was not paid gratuity for the period from 26.05.1981 till the date of reinstatement. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the respondents. Feeling aggrieved by the order of termination, dated 26.05.1981, the petitioner raised an Industrial Dispute before the Labour Court in I.D.No.95 of 1987. The Labour Court through its order dated 17.02.1988 directed not only reinstatement of the petitioner but also continuity of service, without back wages. Once the relief of continuity of service is granted, the petitioner is entitled for the gratuity, for the period for which he was out of service. The respondents challenged the award by filing W.P.No.8181 of 1989, particularly in the context of the relief of continuity of service granted to the petitioner. The said writ petition was dismissed on 12.08.1997. Hence there is no justification for the respondents in denying the benefit of gratuity to the petitioner. Therefore, the writ petition is allowed and the respondents are directed to pay gratuity to the petitioner for the period from 26.05.1981 till the date of his reinstatement into service, within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. There shall be no order as to costs. ________________________ L. NARASIMHA REDDY, J. 17th June, 2010 Js.