IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR MONDAY, THE 22ND MARCH 2010 / 1ST CHAITHRA 1932 WP(C).No. 9451 of 2010(F) -------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- V.J.JOSEPH, S/O.OUSEPH, ADVOCATE, C-5, II FLOOR, ALFA TOWERS, I.S.PRESS ROAD, COCHIN-682 018. BY ADV. SMT.M.V.LIGI RESPONDENT(S): ---------------------------- 1. UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY,MINISTRY OF RAILWAY, RAIL BHAVAN, NEW DELHI. 2. THE GENERAL MANAGER, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, HEADQUARTERS OFFICE, PARK TOWN, CHENNAI. 3. DEPUTY CHIEF LAW OFFICER, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, PARK TOWN, CHENNAI. 4. SENIOR DIVISIONAL COMMERCIAL MANAGER, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, DIVISIONAL OFFICE, COMMERCIAL BRANCH, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-14. BY MR.N.B.SUNILNATH, SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22/03/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: tss T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J. --------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.9451 OF 2010 --------------------------------------- Dated this the 22nd day of March, 2010. J U D G M E N T The petitioner is a practicing Lawyer who was appointed by the Ministry of Railways for conducting arbitration cases. The claim is for payment of advocate fee for the various periods which comes to above Rs.2.5 lakhs. Exhibit P8 shows the total amount due. 2. The petitioner submits that the amount is withheld without any justification. Some of the bills have been returned also objecting to the claim raised by the petitioner. In these circumstances, the petitioner filed Exhibit P8 representation before the 2nd respondent. Seeking for appropriate orders in the matter, this writ petition has been filed. Heard the learned Standing Counsel for the respondents also. There will be a direction to the Chief Law Officer of the office of the 2nd respondent to take a decision on Exhibit P8 and communicate the decision thereof to the petitioner within a W.P.(C) No.9451/2010 2 period of three months after verifying the orders appointing the petitioner, admissible fee sanctioned for the work and the different bills produced by the petitioner for the cases conducted. Depending upon the final outcome of the said exercise, the petitioner will be entitled to approach this Court or the higher authority, if required. The admissible amount will be disbursed without any delay, after the verification is over as directed above. This writ petition is disposed of as above. T.R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR JUDGE smp