High Court Kerala High Court

Sadanandan D vs The Board Of Directors on 16 February, 2010

Kerala High Court
Sadanandan D vs The Board Of Directors on 16 February, 2010
       

  

  

 
 
  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

WP(C).No. 4861 of 2010(G)


1. SADANANDAN D.,
                      ...  Petitioner

                        Vs



1. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, REP. BY
                       ...       Respondent

2. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR,

3. THE GENERAL MANAGER (BUSINESS),

                For Petitioner  :SMT.SREEDEVI KYLASANATH

                For Respondent  : No Appearance

The Hon'ble MR. Justice C.T.RAVIKUMAR

 Dated :16/02/2010

 O R D E R
                           C.T. RAVIKUMAR, J.
                    --------------------------------------------
                        W.P.(C). NO. 4861 OF 2010
                    --------------------------------------------

                  Dated this the 16th day of February, 2010


                                 JUDGMENT

The petitioner is a retiree from the Kerala State Financial Enterprises

Ltd. On 31.5.2009, he retired from its service on superannuation while

holding the post of Chief Manager. Prior to his retirement, he was issued

with Ext.P1 memo of charges. The petitioner submitted Ext.P2 reply to

Ext.P1 before the third respondent. The contention of the petitioner is that

without following the established procedures and in violation of the

principles of natural justice, it was ordered to recover an amount of

Rs.2,32,665/- from the retiral benefits due to the petitioner as per Ext.P3

communication. Feeling aggrieved by Ext.P3, the petitioner has preferred

Ext.P5 appeal before the second respondent. However, no action has so far

been taken on Ext.P5 appeal. It was in the circumstances that this Writ

Petition has been filed.

2. It is evident from Ext.P5 appeal that the petitioner has raised

several contentions against Ext.P3 including the one to the effect that it

was issued without following the prescribed procedures and in violation of

W.P.(C) NO.4861 of 2010 2

the principles of natural justice. It is the settled position that any order

having civil consequences can be passed only after following the

prescribed procedures and the principles of natural justice. Since Ext.P5

appeal has been preferred by the petitioner and it is pending before the

second respondent, it is up to the appellate authority, who is the second

respondent, to consider all these aspects. In view of the contention that an

amount of Rs.2,32,665/- has been ordered to be recovered from the retiral

benefits due to the petitioner even without following the prescribed

procedures and even without notice to the petitioner, it is only appropriate

that such recovery shall be deferred till a decision is taken on Ext.P5. As

Ext.P5 has been filed as early as on 9.9.2009, there shall be a direction to

the second respondent to consider and pass orders thereon expeditiously, at

any rate, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy

of this judgment.

The Writ Petition is disposed of as above.

(C.T. RAVIKUMAR, JUDGE)

spc

W.P.(C) NO.4861 of 2010 3

C.T. RAVIKUMAR, J.

W.P.(C). NO. 4861/2010

JUDGMENT

16th February, 2010