IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.T.RAVIKUMAR WEDNESDAY, THE 7TH APRIL 2010 / 17TH CHAITHRA 1932 WP(C).No. 7806 of 2010(A) ------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- THOMAS CHACKO, UPPER DIVISION CLERK, GOVERNMENT ORANGE AND VEGETABLE FARM, NELLIYAMPATHI, PALAKKAD. BY ADV. SRI.S.P.ARAVINDAKSHAN PILLAY SMT.N.SANTHA SRI.PETER JOSE CHRISTO SRI.S.A.ANAND RESPONDENT(S): --------------- THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE, VIKAS BHAVAN,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM PIN 695 033. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. ANTONY MUKKATH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 07/04/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: C.T. RAVIKUMAR, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P. (C) No. 7806 OF 2010 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 7th day of April, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioner is an Upper Division Clerk in the Agricultural Department. He was placed under suspension as per Ext.P1 order dated 29.12.2006 pending disciplinary action. Later, he was reinstated in service as per Ext.P3 order dated 4.9.2008. On the same day itself, he was served with Ext.P4 memo of charges. On receipt of Ext.P4 he has submitted his explanation on 20.10.2008. The grievance of the petitioner is that despite the receipt of the said explanation the authorities have not so far taken, any step to finalize the disciplinary proceedings initiated against him as per Ext.P4 dated 4.9.2008. It is to be noted that though he was placed under suspension on 29.12.2006 the disciplinary action was actually initiated only much later. In these circumstances, considering the undue delay for finalization of the disciplinary action, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent to finalize the disciplinary proceedings, initiated against the petitioner, expeditiously, at any rate, within a period of 4 months from today. Sd/- (C.T. RAVIKUMAR, JUDGE) jma //true copy// P.A to Judge