Kerala High Court
K.Jayachandran vs Kerala State Electricity Board
Author: P.N.Ravindran
Bench: P.N.Ravindran
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN
WEDNESDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF APRIL 2012/22ND CHAITHRA 1934
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
-------------------------------------
PETITIONER(S):
------------------------
1. K.JAYACHANDRAN,
PUTHENVEEDU, PUTHIYAKAVU
KILIMANOOR POST, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
2. G. KAMALASANAN , S/O GOPALAN,
MOTHER LAND, AVANAVANCHERRY POST
ATTINGAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
3. S. PRABHAKARAN PILLAI,
'SWAPNALAYAM', PENGANADU POST
KILIMANOOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
4. S. JAMEELA BEEVI, 'BISMI', AVANAVANCHERI POST
ATTINGAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
5. C. A. SHAHUL HAMEED, PLAVILA VEEDU,
CHATHANPARA, THOTTAKKADU POST
KALLAMBALAM
6. K. SREENIVASAN, SUDEEP BHAVAN,
ALATHARAMOODU POST
ALAMCODE
7. M RAJENDRAN NAIR, USHA NIVAS
NEAR RAILWAY STATION, VARKALA
8. P. SIVASANKARA KURUP,
CHEENIVILA VEEDU
KANNAYAMKODE, KILIMANOOR POST
9. M RAFEEK, THOTTATHIL VEEDU
PAKALKURI POST, PALLICKAL,
KILIMANOOR
10. S. CHANDRAHASAN, POURNAMI
THOTTAKKADU POST
KALLAMBALAM
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
11. K. APPU CHETTIAR, VILAYIL VEEDU,
PADANILAM, CHIRAYINKIL
12. M. ALIYARKUNJU, 'CRESCENT'
MUTTAPPALAM, PERUNGUZHI POST
13. A ABDUL RASHEED, SHIBI MANZIL
THONNAKAL POST
14. K. NIRMALA RAVEENDRA NIVAS,
NILAKKAMUKKU
KADAKKAVOOR POST
15. R. BALAGANGADHARAN NAIR
'LAKSHMI'
VELANKONAM, ATTINGAL
16. G. SAROJIN AMMA,
'LAKSHMI'
VELANKONAM, ATTINGAL
17. P. BALAKRISHNAN POTTI,
THENTHULLI MANA
AVANAVANCHERY POST
ATTINGAL
18. R. RAVEENDRAN NAIR
ANNOOR HOUSE
THOTTAKKADU POST
KALLAMBALAM
19. E. ABDUL VAHID
'AL MAJMAL',
KALLAMBALAM POST
20. E ABDUL RASHEED
PLAVILA VEEDU
KOCHALUMOODU
MADAVOOR POST, PALLICKAL
21. M GOPINATHAN NAIR, POIKAVILA VEEDU
NAVAIKULAM POST
22. K.G. NARAYANAN NAIR
LEKSHMI VILAS
AVANAVANCHERRY POST
ATTINGAL
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
23. N. PRATHAPAN
JAYASREE BHAVAN
KELESWARAM
CHIRAYINKIL
24. K. GOPI
VILAYIL PUTHEN VEEDU,
KESAVAPURAM
NAGAROOR POST
25. V. PRABHAKARAN PILLAI,
SREEVILASOM
PAIVELY
PAKALKURI POST
26. K. GOPALAKRISHNAN,
DEEPU VILAS, ELAMBA POST
AVANAVANCHERRY POST,
ATTINGAL
27. V. RAMANAN, KALLINGAL
THOTTAM VEEDU
AVANANCHERRY POST, ATTINGAL
28. P. SIVADASAN NAIR
AKKAM VEEDU,
CHIRAYINKIL POST
29. R. VASUDEVAN PILLAI, LATHA BHAVAN
KADAMPATTUKONAM, KILIMAMOOR
30. K.P. CHANDRAMOHANA BHAS, "ATHIRA"
OPP FIRE STATION
31. K. RAJENDRAN, PULIMOOTTIL THAZHAL
NEDUMANGAD - 695 307\
32. C. DIVAKARAN, AIYSWARYA,
JANATHA ROAD, CHEMPAZHANTHY POST
SREEKARYAM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
33. K LOHIDAS, AJITH BHAVAN
NEAR KATTUKULAM
CHIRAYINKEEZHU
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
34. M. VIDHYA SAGAR, 'REVATHY'
POIKAMUKKU POST
ATTINGAL
35. S MURALEEDHARAN
AMBILI MANDIRAM
ATTUPURAM
KADAKKAL POST
36. C. SANTHAKUMARAN NAIR
MUKKATTU HOUSE
ALTHARMOODU
CHIRAYINKEEZHU POST
37. J. SUDARSANAN
RAKENDU
CHETTITHODY
VARKALA POST
38. K.C. RAJAMMA,
ASHA BHAVAN,
KALLINGAL
AVANAVANCHERRY POST, ATTINGAL
39. S. BABU SURENDRANATH
JITHALAYAM, MARKET ROAD
KILIMANOOR POST
40. D. LEELAMONY AMMA
VILAYAIL PUTHEN VEEDU
AVANAVANCHERRY POST
ATTINGAL
41. E. MOHAMMED HANEEFA
SHAJI NEST, MADANTHAPACHA
P.C. MUKKU POST, KALLAMBALAM
42. M. JALALUDDIN
'BISMI', AVANVANCHERRY POST
ATTINGAL
43. N. RADHAKRISHNAN NAIR
'MANNOOR VEEDU'
NEAR PADANILAM L P SCHOOL
CHIRAYINKEEZHU POST
44. K. SATHEESAKUMARAN,
KAYANIYIL HOUSE,
NEAR CHEKKALAVILAKOM JUNCTION
KADAKAVUR POST
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
45. J CHANDRIKA, W/O LATE K. GOPINATHAN
VILAYIL VEEDU, THACHOORKUNNU
AVANAVANCHERY POST
46. K. GOPINATHAN, KADAVIL VEEDU
VAKKOM POST
47. V. GOKULADAS,
'ROHINI'
PUTHUSSERI MUKKU
KALLAMBALAM
48. N. SASIDHARAN
AMBIKA BHAVAN,
KADAKKAVOOR
49. M. MUBEENA
USHUS, PAKALKURY POST,
PALLICKAL
50. V. PRABHAKARAN NAIR
AMBIKA BHAVAN
CHEETTAYIL
KILIMANOOR POST
51. J SIVADASAN NAIR
MOLY NIVAS,
KEEZHVILAM POST
VALIYAKUNNU
ATTINGAL
52. T. LEKSHMANAN ASARI
ASHA BHAVAN
CHENKIKUNNU
KILIMANOOR
53. R. VASUDEVAKURUP
SHINY VILASOM
MULLARAMCODE
KALLAMBALAM POST
54. V. K. HRISHIKESA BABU,
KESAVA SREE
NEAR G H S SCHOOL
PALACE ROAD
ATTINGAL
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
55. J. MANMADHAN
KORATTU PUTHEN VILA
PEROOR POST
KILIMANOOR
56. N. THYAGARAJAN
LITTY NIVAS
AYROOR POST
VARKALA
57. N. RAMACHANDRA KURUP
RESMI BHAVAN
MELATTINGAL
ALAMCODE POST
58. G. RADHAKRISHNAN NAIR
'RAJAGIRI', THOTTAKKAD POST
KALLAMBALAM
59. N. SASIDHARAN NAIR
RAGAM
ALAMCODE POST
ATTINGAL
60. V. VIJAYARAJAN
B.S. LAND
MUTTAPPALAM POST
VARKALA
61. V. SEN, 'PRASENAM',
KOONTHALLOOR
CHIRAYINKEEZHU POST
62. M. VALSALAN, P M HOUSE
PERUNGUZHI POST
63. K. SREEDHARAN PILLAI
KARIMBALAM
MEVARKAL, ALAMCODE POST
ATTINGAL
64. C SUNDARESAN NAIR,
MURUKKARAVILA VEEDU
KOLLIYODE,
ATTINGAL POST
65. M. VISWAMBARAN CHETTIAR
CHARUVILA VEEDU
KUZHIYILMUKKU
ATTINGAL POST
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
66. Y. MOHAMMED ISMAIL
SEENA NIVAS, THATTATHUMALA POST
67. T. THANKAPPAN
THALAVADAMPURAYIDAM
ANJENGE, KADAKKAVOOR POST
68. S. SATHEESALAL, LAL BHAVAN
VAKKOM POST
69. N. SADANANDAN
MAKAYEERAM
AYIROOR POST
VARKKALA
70. A. NARAYAN PILLAI, KARTHIKA
VETTOR, VARKALA
71. M. HAMSA, J H R MANZIL
MUTHALALI VILLA
NADAYARA
SREENIVASAPURAM POST
VARKALA
72. M. SUHAIRE
KULIRMA, ELAKAMON POST,
VARKALA
73. K.R. RAVINDRAN
SABU NIVAS,
VANDIPURA
PALAYAMKUNNU
VARKALA
74. C.K. VALSALA
PLAVILA VEEDU
CHATHANPURA
THOTTAKKADU POST
KALLAMBALAM
75. K.P. JAYA
MANIMANGALAM
RAMACHAMVILA
ATTINGAL
76. A. SAFIYUDDIN
WEST CHEKKALA
EDAVA
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
77. D BHASI
B.S. MANDIRAM
PALAYAMKUNNU POST
VARKALA
78. K. KARTHIKEYAN
AYSWARYAS
MELVOTTOOR POST
VARKALA
79. O.B. PEETHAMBARAN
POIKAVILA VEEDU
PUTHUSSERIMUKKU
KALLAMBALAM
80. K. GOPINATHA KURUP
SARASWATHI MANDIR
PARAKUNNU, NAVAIKULAM POST
81. A.C. RAMACHANDRAN ASSARI
'ATHULYA' KIZHAKKEPURAM POST
AYROOR, VARKALA
82. R. THANKAPPAN PILLAI
JAYASREE BHAVAN
RAMANALLOORKONAM
NAGROOR POST, KILIMANOOR
83. V. BHARATHARAJAN NAIR
VEDANVILA VEEDU
NAVAIKULAM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
84. V. KRISHNANKUTTY CHETTIAR
CHARUVILA VEEDU
HOSPITAL JUNCTION
VAMANAPURAM POST
85. K. GOPAKUMAR,
'KRISHNANJANA
SOUTH OF TEMPLE
VARKALA
86. M. KUTTAPPAN
'DEEPTHI', CHERUNNIYOOR POST
87. V. SARASAMMA
'DARSANA', KEEZHATTINGAL POST
ATTINGAL
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
88. K. PURUSHOTHAMAN PILLAI,
SIJI BHAVAN
THUMBODE, KALLARA POST
89. G. GOPI
MANGALATHU PTHEN VEEDU
NAGAROOR
ALTHARAMOODU POST
90. J. RAVINDRAN NAIR
MANJU VILASOM
VAMANAPURAM
VAMANAPURAM POST
91. G. PARAMESWARAN CHETTIAR
'DARSANA', KEEZHATTINGAL POST
ATTINGAL
92. S. MOHAMMED BASHEER,
KOTTOOR VEEDU
CHATHANPARA
THOTTAKKAD
KALLAMBALAM
93. N. RAJENDRAN NAIR
'SOUBHAGYA'
NEAR BOYS HIGH SCHOOL
ATTINGAL
94. V. RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI
LEKSHMI VILASATHU VEEDU
CHATHAKONAM, KALLARA POST
95. M.A. MOHAMMED KASSIM,
ALICHU VILAKOM
VENKULAM
EDAVA POST
96. K. RAVINDRAN PILLAI
VALSA COTTAGE
NEAR G H S
ATTINGAL POST
97. J VIJAYAN, V V LAND
MUYTTAPALAM POST
(VIA) KIZUVALAM
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
98. G. PRABHAKARAN NAIR
SEETHA NIVAS
THETTICHIRA
KURAKKADA POST (VIA)
KIZHUVALAM
99. C. GOPI, 'GEETHAM'
AVANAVANCHERRY POST
ATTINGAL
100. M. ANANDAN, CHARUVILA PUTHEN VEEDU
KURAVANKUZHI, THATTATHUMALA POST
101. R. SUKUMARI, RANI BHAVAN
THACHANKONAM
VARKALA
102. M. SISUPALAN
KAROTE VEEDU
KADAKKAVOOR POST
103. V. RAJENDRADAS
SASTHAMPADIKKAL
THOTTUVARAM
ATTINGAL
104. P. PADMINI AMMA
'PRIYA', MUDAKKAL POST
ATTINGAL
105. K. SUKUMARA PILLAI
CHARUVILA PUTHEN VEDU
CHANGAYIKONAM
PULIYOORKONA POST
MADAVOOR
106. K. PURUSHOTHAMAN PILLAI
DHANYA VILASOM
MUROORKONAM
VALIYAKATTAKAL
VENJARAMOODU POST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
107. D. SUDHEENDRAN, SANGEETH
NEAR RAILWAY STATION
CHIRAYINKEEZHU
108. K. THANKAPPAN PILLAI,
SHAJI NIVAS
AVANAVANCHERRY POST, ATTINGAL
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
109. N. SURENDRAN, CHAMBAN VILA
ANAKKU SAMEEBHAM
VAKKOM POST
110. P. SATHYASEELAN, S P BHAVAN
MANNARKKADAVATH
ANATHALAVATTOM POST,
KADAKKAVOOR
111. G. GOPI, PULIMOOTTIL VEEDU
KADUVAYIL ATTINGAL
112. A. KRISHNA PILLAI, MANJUSHA MANDIRAM
THATTATHUMALA POST
KILIMANOOR
113. M. ILLIAS, SHEELA MANZIL
AYIROORKONAM
ALTHARAMOODU POST
NAGAROOR (VIA), ALAMOODE
114. P.K. GOPINATHA PILLAI
PUTHEN VEEDU
AROOR, PENGANADU POST
115. C. PRABHAKARAN NAIR
REVATHY, KOCHALUMOODU
AVANANCHERRY, ATTINGAL
116. N. PUSHPARAJAN, KANAVILA VEEDU
VAKKOM POST, THIRUVANTHAPURAM
117. N. SADASIVAN, ROSSY MANDIRAM
MADAVOOR POST
118. K. VISWAMBHARAN, SANGEETHA, NEAR FARMER'S BANK
VAKKOM POST
119. K. ABDUL MAJEED, J & J MANZIL,
THATTATHUMALA POST
KILIMANOOR
120. M. ABDUL RASHEED, LAILA MANZIL
VALAKKAD, ELAMBA POST
(VIA) AVANAVANCHERY
121. A. ABDUL KALAM,
KAKKOTTU PUTHEN VEEDU
MADAVOOR
NJARAYILKONAM POST
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
122. R. SATHY AMMA,
THUNDUVILA PUTHEN VEEDU
NAVAIKULAM POST
123. R. SADASIVAN NAIR,
SARASWATHY VILASOM
PUTHANCHANTHA
VARKALA
124. V. PUSHPARAJAN
CHANANTOMANAKKADU VEEDU
VAKKOM POST
125. G. VISWANATHAN ACHARI
G.V. HOUSE
VAMANAPURAM POST
126. T. MAHADEVAN ASSARI
SARASWATHY BHAVAN
CHENKIKUNNU
KILIMANOOR
127. K. VASUDEVAN NAIR
LEELA BHAVAN
MYLAMOODU POST BHARATHANNUR
128. R. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR
SOUMYAM
MARKET ROAD
ATTINGAL
129. M. BHASY,
KOZHIYOTTUMADAM VEEDU
KOONTHALLOOR
CHIRAYINKEEZHU POST
130. G. THULASEEDHARAN,
KEERTHI, PALAKKAMBU
PAPPALA, KILIMANOOR POST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
131. B. SASI KUMAR, 'VAISAKH',
PLAVAZHIKAM,
NEDUNGANDA POST, VARKALA
132. A. BAHULEYAN, 'REVATHY'
NAGAROOR, ALTHARAMOODU
ALAMCODE POST
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
BY ADVS.SRI.R.SREEHARI
SRI.R.MOHAN KUMAR
RESPONDENT(S):
--------------------------
1. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD
VYDYUTHI BHAVAN
PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY
2. THE CONTROLLING AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF
GRATUITY ACT (DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 035
3. THE APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE PAYMENT OF
GRATUITY ACT (REGIONAL JOINT LABOUR COMMISSIONER)
CIVIL STATION, KOLLAM - 691 001
BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. G. GOPAKUMAR
BY SRI. K.S. ANIL, SC, KSEB
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON
11-04-2012, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
DCS
WP(C).No. 9071 of 2012 (H)
APPENDIX
PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS :-
EXT.P1 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
09.12.2005 IN G C NO. 251/04 ETC.
EXT.P2 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
17.10.2006 IN G C NOS. 957/04, 958/04 ETC.
EXT.P3 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
30.06.2006 IN G C NOS. 732/04, 733/04 ETC.
EXT.P4 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
27.1.2006 IN G C NOS. 1010/04, 1011/04 ETC.
EXT.P5 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
03.11.2006 IN G C NOS. 98/05, 100/05 ETC.
EXT.P6 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
27.04.2007 IN G C NOS. 100/06, 101/06 ETC.
EXT.P7 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
26.11.2007 IN G C NOS. 81/07 TO 111/07 ETC.
EXT.P8 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
30.11.2007 IN G C NOS. 149/07 TO 252/07 ETC.
EXT.P9 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
31.12.2007 IN G C NOS. 253/07 TO 388/07 ETC.
EXT.P10 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
30.03.2010 IN G C NOS. 337/07 TO 386/07 ETC.
EXT.P11 COPY OF THE COMMON ORDER OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED
30.07.2007 IN G C NOS. 195/06 TO 316/06 ETC.
EXT.P12 COPY OF THE ORDER B O(FB) NO. 1313/2011 (PSI)/GRATUITY/TVPM/2006
DATED 24.05.2011
RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS :- NIL
/TRUE COPY/
P.A. TO JUDGE
DCS
P.N.RAVINDRAN, J.
---------------------------
W.P.(C) No.9071 OF 2012
--------------------------
Dated this the 11thday of April, 2012
J U D G M E N T
The petitioners are former employees of the Kerala State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as 'the Board' for short). Upon retirement they were paid terminal benefits including gratuity computed in terms of the provisions contained in Part-III of the Kerala Service Rules. Long after their retirement, relying on the decision of this Court in O.P. No.674 of 2002 the petitioners filed separate applications before the Controlling Authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act' for short) seeking payment of gratuity in terms of the said enactment. By Exts.P1 to P12 orders, the Controlling Authority allowed the applications and directed payment of the difference in the amount of gratuity with interest at applicable rates from the respective due dates. The said orders have attained finality. This writ petition is filed contending that though the principal amount of gratuity directed to be paid by the Controlling Authority under the Act was deposited and disbursed, the interest payable to the petitioners WPC No.9071/2012 2 in terms of the orders passed by the Controlling Authority has not been deposited so far. In this writ petition, the petitioners seek an order directing the Board to pay the interest portion expeditiously.
2. Sri.K.S.Anil, the learned standing counsel appearing for the Board submitted that the Board has by order No. B.O.(FB) No.1313/2011(PSI/Gratuity/TVPM/2006) dated 24.5.2011 decided to adopt and implement the provisions of the Act in respect of the employees of the Board and therefore the Board will take steps to deposit the interest portion expeditiously. The learned standing counsel also submitted that having regard to the heavy financial commitment involved, the Board may be granted at least six months' time from today to deposit the interest portion and that the Board's liability to pay interest may be limited till the date of deposit of the principal amount. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners did not oppose the said request. That apart, I have by judgment delivered on 7.6.2011 in W.P.(C) No. 639 of 2011 and connected cases disposed of similar writ petitions filed by former employees of the WPC No.9071/2012 3 Board wherein after taking note of the heavy financial commitment involved, I granted the Board six months' time from the date of the judgment to deposit the interest portion and had also directed that interest will run on the principal amount of gratuity directed to be paid by the Controlling Authority only from the respective due dates till the date of deposit of the principal amount. I accordingly dispose of the writ petition with the following directions:
(i) The Board shall within six months from today, deposit before the Controlling Authority, the amount payable to the petitioners by way of interest calculated in terms of Exts.P1 to P12 orders computed with reference to the respective due dates till the date of deposit of the principal amount.
(ii) Upon such deposit being made, it will be open to the petitioners to unconditionally withdraw the amount deposited.
P.N.RAVINDRAN, (JUDGE) vps WPC No.9071/2012 4 WPC No.9071/2012 5 WPC No.9071/2012 6