IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
WP(C) No. 16791 of 2006(Y)
1. DHARANEEDHARAN.P. RESIDING AT NETAJI
... Petitioner
Vs
1. TALIPARAMBA CO-OPERATIVE HOUSE
... Respondent
2. THE SECRETARY,
3. TJE JOINT REGISTRAR(GENERAL),
For Petitioner :SRI.SURESH KUMAR KODOTH
For Respondent :SRI.H.BADARUDDIN
The Hon'ble MR. Justice K.THANKAPPAN
Dated :11/10/2006
O R D E R
K. THANKAPPAN, J
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W.P.(C). NO. 16791 OF 2006
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Dated this the 11th day of October, 2006
JUDGMENT
The petitioner filed this writ petition with the following prayers.
i) To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, directing the
2nd respondent to grant the pension to the petitioner forthwith.
ii) To issue a direction directing respondents 1 to 3 to disburse provident
fund, gratuity, arrears of pay calculated on the basis of Government order dated
23.08.2005 with interest thereon within a time limit.
The petitioner was working with the first respondent – society. While
working so, Ext.P1 show cause notice was issued against the petitioner to show
cause why he should not be dismissed from service on the basis of the
disciplinary proceeding already initiated against him. As evident from Ext. R1(c)
dated 27.2.2006 the petitioner filed an arbitration case as ARC. No. 15/2006
before the Co-Operative Arbitration Court against Ext. P1 notice. The above
notice and the proceedings taken against the petitioner were challenged in ARC
No. 15/2006.
W.P.(C). NO. 16791 OF 2006 2
In the above arbitration case an IA was also filed for staying the further
proceedings in pursuance of the notice dated 27.12.2006. Arbitration Court had
granted interim stay. In the meanwhile the first respondent-society after having
conducted the enquiry and on the decision taken by the said committee, had
issued Ext. R1(e) by which service of the petitioner has been terminated. In the
meanwhile the petitioner retired from service on 30.04.2006. Now the petitioner
submits that since the proceedings initiated against him was stayed by the
Arbitration Court, the order issued by the first respondent, dismissing him from
service is not sustainable and the prayer in the writ petition is that he wants to
get the pension. Now a counter affidavit is also filed for and on behalf of the first
respondent and this court also heard the counsel for the second respondent –
Pension Board.
The learned counsel appearing for the second respondent – Pension
Board submits that as and when papers are received from the first respondent,
necessary orders will be passed as per clause 18(2) of the pension scheme and
whether the petitioner is entitled for pension or not will depend on the order to be
passed by the Arbitrator.
Now the question to be decided is that whether the show cause notice
issued by the first respondent can be challenged before the Arbitration Court and
W.P.(C). NO. 16791 OF 2006 3
the interim order passed as evident from Ext.P1 is sustainable or not. In the light
of the dismissal order passed by the first respondent as evidence from Ext. R1
(e), this court is of the view that the validity of the show cause notice alone
cannot be considered. It is left to the petitioner to challenge Ext. R1(e) before
the appropriate authority. In this context the counsel for the petitioner submits
tha t the petitioner was not served Ext. R1(e), even though the counsel for the
first respondent submits that it was already sent to him within 3 days of passing
of the order. However, it is appropriate for the first respondent to give a copy of
Ext. R1(e) to the petitioner within 2 weeks from today.
Come to the merit of the contention of this case, this court is of the view
that since the petitioner is dismissed from service by Ext. R1(e), that order has to
be challenged before the appropriate authority. In the above circumstances, this
writ petition is closed without considering the contention raised. With regard to
the stand taken by the second respondent – Board can be reconsidered on
getting appropriate orders from the authority deals with the dismissal order
passed by the first respondent.
K. THANKAPPAN, JUDGE.
RV