High Court Kerala High Court

E.K.Jose vs State Of Kerala on 24 March, 2009

Kerala High Court
E.K.Jose vs State Of Kerala on 24 March, 2009
       

  

  

 
 
  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

WA.No. 1687 of 2005()


1. E.K.JOSE,
                      ...  Petitioner

                        Vs



1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE
                       ...       Respondent

2. DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS,

                For Petitioner  :SRI.P.RAMAKRISHNAN

                For Respondent  :GOVERNMENT PLEADER

The Hon'ble MR. Justice K.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR
The Hon'ble MR. Justice M.L.JOSEPH FRANCIS

 Dated :24/03/2009

 O R D E R
         K.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR & M.L.JOSEPH FRANCIS, JJ.
          =========================================
                      W.A.No.1687 of 2005 - D
                   ===============================
                Dated this the 24th day of March, 2009.

                            J U D G M E N T

Balakrishnan Nair, J.

The writ petitioner is the appellant. He retired from service

as Village Extension Officer on 31.12.1989. The writ petition was

filed seeking the following reliefs:

“a. Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus
compelling the respondents to settle the claims of
petitioner for full pension, arrears of pay, proper
fixation and other monetory claims.

b. Direct that the delayed payments should be
supported by interest at commercial rates”.

2. The learned Single Judge disposed of the writ petition

directing the Assistant Director of Panchayaths to consider the

claim of the petitioner and release the terminal benefits due to

him. Contending that the learned Judge should have ordered to

pay amounts due to him without relegating him to the

departmental authorities, the writ appeal was filed. During the

pendency of the writ appeal, pensionary benefits were released.

Now, the learned counsel for the appellant submits that he is

entitled to get interest for the delayed payments. Appellant

submits that the only ground taken in the counter affidavit filed

W.A.No.1687 of 2005 – D

2

in the writ petition justifying the delay is missing of his service

book. Appellant points out that he is in noway responsible for

that. Learned Government Pleader on the other hand submitted

that the appellant has no prayer in the writ appeal for payment of

interest. It is also submitted that no reply affidavit was filed by

the appellant.

3. Having regard to the inordinate delay, we feel that the

appellant should be paid interest for the DCRG for the delay in

paying it after finalisation of the liability due from him.

Accordingly, respondents are directed to pay 6% interest for the

DCRG amount from the date of finalisation of the liability of the

petitioner to the date of its release. The same shall be paid

within four months from the date of production of a copy of this

judgment.

The writ appeal is disposed of as above.

K.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR,
JUDGE.

M.L.JOSEPH FRANCIS,
JUDGE.

bkn/-