{"id":198322,"date":"2008-10-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-10-20T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/k-pocker-vs-the-kerala-state-financial-on-21-october-2008"},"modified":"2014-10-12T11:48:05","modified_gmt":"2014-10-12T06:18:05","slug":"k-pocker-vs-the-kerala-state-financial-on-21-october-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/k-pocker-vs-the-kerala-state-financial-on-21-october-2008","title":{"rendered":"K.Pocker vs The Kerala State Financial &#8230; on 21 October, 2008"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Kerala High Court<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">K.Pocker vs The Kerala State Financial &#8230; on 21 October, 2008<\/div>\n<pre>       \n\n  \n\n  \n\n \n \n  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM\n\nWP(C).No. 34691 of 2004(E)\n\n\n1. K.POCKER, S\/O.KUNHIKUTTY ALI HAJI,\n                      ...  Petitioner\n\n                        Vs\n\n\n\n1. THE KERALA STATE FINANCIAL ENTERPRISES\n                       ...       Respondent\n\n2. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR,\n\n3. M.K.KARTHIKEYAN,\n\n4. SRI.P.K.RADHAKRISHNAN, ADVOCATE,\n\n                For Petitioner  :SRI.S.V.BALAKRISHNA IYER (SR.)\n\n                For Respondent  : No Appearance\n\nThe Hon'ble MR. Justice V.GIRI\n\n Dated :21\/10\/2008\n\n O R D E R\n                        V.GIRI, J.\n         -------------------------\n             W.P.(C).No.34691 of 2007\n         -------------------------\n         Dated this the 21st day of October, 2008.\n\n\n                     JUDGMENT\n<\/pre>\n<p>       Petitioner challenges Ext.P34 order passed<\/p>\n<p>by the 2nd respondent Managing Director of the<\/p>\n<p>Kerala  State  Financial      Enterprises,      imposing a<\/p>\n<p>punishment on him, on conclusion of disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>proceedings initiated against the petitioner for a<\/p>\n<p>variety of charges.     Ext.P34 was challenged by the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner in appeal in terms of the Standing<\/p>\n<p>Orders and the same was also dismissed as per<\/p>\n<p>Ext.P41 order.     By Ext.P41 order, the Board of<\/p>\n<p>Directors affirmed Ext.P34 order.        Ext.P41 is also,<\/p>\n<p>therefore, challenged in this writ petition.<\/p>\n<p>       2.   As   evidenced      by   Ext.P2,     petitioner<\/p>\n<p>(Senior Manager) was eligible for promotion to the<\/p>\n<p>higher post of Regional Manager. By Ext.P3 memo<\/p>\n<p>dated  4.3.1999,    petitioner      was   suspended    from<\/p>\n<p>service.  Ext.P4 memo of charges was issued to the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner.  By    Ext.P5     letter     dated    18.5.1999<\/p>\n<p>petitioner sought for copies of various documents<\/p>\n<p>specifically referred to therein.           Petitioner was<\/p>\n<p>told vide Ext.P6 that directions have been issued<\/p>\n<p>to the Kalpetta Branch to provide him copies of the<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 2 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\nrelevant documents.  Ext.P7 request was, therefore,<\/p>\n<p>made to the Branch Manager at Kalpetta reiterating<\/p>\n<p>the requests made in Ext.P5. This was met with<\/p>\n<p>Ext.P8 stating that certain documents were readily<\/p>\n<p>available and those which are available will be<\/p>\n<p>permitted  to  be   perused.     It  seems that   the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner felt that he would not be in a position<\/p>\n<p>to give a reply to the memo of charges and submit a<\/p>\n<p>written statement of defence, unless he is supplied<\/p>\n<p>with  the  documents.  He,     therefore, sought  for<\/p>\n<p>extension of time to submit a written statement.<\/p>\n<p>Petitioner makes reference to the repeated requests<\/p>\n<p>made by him in this regard and also refers to<\/p>\n<p>Ext.P14 dated 9.7.1999 whereby he was informed that<\/p>\n<p>many of the documents, copies of which he had<\/p>\n<p>sought for, are not relevant in this context.<\/p>\n<p>       3. An Enquiry Officer was appointed.       The<\/p>\n<p>enquiry was proceeded with.     Petitioner reiterated<\/p>\n<p>his request for copies of the documents before the<\/p>\n<p>Enquiry Officer.\n<\/p>\n<p>       4. The management got Exts.M1 to M28 marked<\/p>\n<p>at the time of enquiry.  Petitioner has a case that<\/p>\n<p>even  the  list  of  documents    relied  on  by  the<\/p>\n<p>management were not given to him.     He again made a<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 3 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\nrequest, as evidenced by Ext.P22, that at least<\/p>\n<p>copies of the documents, which are marked by the<\/p>\n<p>management,  should  be  given   to  him.     In the<\/p>\n<p>meanwhile,  petitioner  aspired   for   promotion as<\/p>\n<p>Regional Manager on the strength of his seniority<\/p>\n<p>as reflected in Ext.P2 and the same had reached<\/p>\n<p>this  court,  as  evidenced    by  Exts.P24  and P25<\/p>\n<p>judgments.  The petitioner&#8217;s claim, in this regard,<\/p>\n<p>was directed to be considered on completion of the<\/p>\n<p>enquiry.  As could be seen from Ext.P26, petitioner<\/p>\n<p>persisted  with  the  claim    for  receipt  of   the<\/p>\n<p>documents.    On  completion    of  the  enquiry, he<\/p>\n<p>submitted a detailed argument note with reference<\/p>\n<p>to each charge and he repeated his complaint that<\/p>\n<p>there has been violation of the principles of<\/p>\n<p>natural justice, inter alia, on account of the fact<\/p>\n<p>that he was not only not supplied the documents<\/p>\n<p>which he had sought for in the first instance to<\/p>\n<p>substantiate his defence, but was also not supplied<\/p>\n<p>with the documents sought to be marked by the<\/p>\n<p>management in advance.   Ext.P28 Enquiry Report was<\/p>\n<p>drawn up on 18.4.2001 and on receipt of a copy of<\/p>\n<p>the   same,   petitioner     submitted   a   detailed<\/p>\n<p>representation  Ext.P29    raising   his   objections<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 4 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\nregarding the findings contained in the Enquiry<\/p>\n<p>Report.  He had raised a contention on each one of<\/p>\n<p>the  findings  contained   in    the  Enquiry Report.<\/p>\n<p>Ext.P30  show  cause  notice     was  issued  to  the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner proposing a punishment of reversion.<\/p>\n<p>       5. Pursuant to a direction issued by this<\/p>\n<p>court in O.P.No.24543\/04, petitioner was afforded<\/p>\n<p>an opportunity for submitting an explanation to<\/p>\n<p>Ext.P30.  This was done as per Ext.P31.      Personal<\/p>\n<p>hearing was afforded on 16.11.2001.<\/p>\n<p>       6. Final orders on the disciplinary action<\/p>\n<p>was not passed for a long time and petitioner was<\/p>\n<p>due to retire on 28.2.2003.       He contends that on<\/p>\n<p>21.2.2003 he was served with Ext.P34 which is a<\/p>\n<p>final order passed in the disciplinary proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>He was let off with a &#8220;strong warning&#8221;.     An appeal<\/p>\n<p>filed  by  the  petitioner     before  the  Board  of<\/p>\n<p>Directors as per the Standing Orders [Ext.P36] was<\/p>\n<p>rejected  as  per  Ext.P41     and  as stated  above,<\/p>\n<p>petitioner challenges Exts.P34 and P41.<\/p>\n<p>       7. A detailed counter affidavit has been<\/p>\n<p>filed by the respondents supporting the orders<\/p>\n<p>impugned and a reply affidavit has been filed by<\/p>\n<p>the petitioner.\n<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 5 ::\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>       8.   I   heard  learned     counsel  for  the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner Mr.P.B.Krishnan, and learned counsel for<\/p>\n<p>the respondents Mr.Anand.\n<\/p>\n<p>       9. Mr.Krishnan, learned counsel for the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner contends that the enquiry proceedings<\/p>\n<p>against the petitioner was clearly vitiated by<\/p>\n<p>violation of principles of natural justice.       He<\/p>\n<p>contends that immediately on receipt of the memo of<\/p>\n<p>charges  Ext.P1,  petitioner    made  a  request for<\/p>\n<p>copies of various documents as per Ext.P5.    He was<\/p>\n<p>assured that instructions have been given to the<\/p>\n<p>Kalpetta Branch to supply him with the copies of<\/p>\n<p>the relevant documents.    He reiterated his request<\/p>\n<p>in Ext.P7 and thereafter on several occasions.    He<\/p>\n<p>made a request before the Enquiry Officer, as is<\/p>\n<p>evidenced by Ext.P14.   He also made a request to<\/p>\n<p>the  Enquiry  Officer  to     summon the   documents.<\/p>\n<p>Petitioner  was   disabled     from  submitting  his<\/p>\n<p>statement    of    defence,      because    of   the<\/p>\n<p>omission\/failure on the part of the management to<\/p>\n<p>supply him those documents.\n<\/p>\n<p>       10. The management had produced certain<\/p>\n<p>documents from their side at the time of enquiry.<\/p>\n<p>Copies  of  the  same  were    not  supplied  to the<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                       :: 6 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\npetitioner before they were produced before the<\/p>\n<p>Enquiry  Officer.  In  fact,   the Enquiry  Officer<\/p>\n<p>should have ensured that the petitioner gets the<\/p>\n<p>copies of the documents and is then given some time<\/p>\n<p>to peruse the same and if necessary, call for<\/p>\n<p>details which may throw light on the aspects that<\/p>\n<p>are otherwise contended to be relevant by the<\/p>\n<p>management  with  reference   to  those  documents.<\/p>\n<p>After all, as many as 18 charges were originally<\/p>\n<p>formulated and each of them should be considered<\/p>\n<p>only with reference to the documents in the custody<\/p>\n<p>of the management.     Reference was made to the<\/p>\n<p>discharge of duties by the petitioner when he was<\/p>\n<p>in Kalpetta Branch.  That the management itself was<\/p>\n<p>not very certain about the correctness of the<\/p>\n<p>charges is evident from the fact that though as<\/p>\n<p>many as 18 charges were originally laid against the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner, the management had given up charges<\/p>\n<p>Nos.1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 and 18.    Charges 3 and 4<\/p>\n<p>were partly found.  Charges Nos.5, 6, 9, 10, 13 and<\/p>\n<p>17 were found fully.   The petitioner had, on his<\/p>\n<p>own, let in evidence.     Learned counsel for the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner submits that there is a genuine attempt<\/p>\n<p>on the part of the employee to prove in a pro-<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 7 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\nactive manner that the charges levelled against him<\/p>\n<p>were baseless.   He had examined Dws.1 to 11.     He<\/p>\n<p>had produced documents Exts.D1 to D28.<\/p>\n<p>       11.   Mr.Krishnan   contends  that   there is<\/p>\n<p>absolutely no reference whatsoever, worth the name<\/p>\n<p>to the employee&#8217;s evidence by the Enquiry Officer.<\/p>\n<p>He submits that a reference to the Enquiry Report<\/p>\n<p>will show that the Enquiry Officer condescended to<\/p>\n<p>refer to the employee&#8217;s evidence at two portions of<\/p>\n<p>the Enquiry Report, first at page 106 dealing with<\/p>\n<p>Issue No.3 and secondly at para 14 dealing with<\/p>\n<p>Issue No.9.  He submits that there is no reference<\/p>\n<p>to  the  plethora  of  documents    produced  by  the<\/p>\n<p>delinquent employee or the testimony of the 11<\/p>\n<p>witnesses examined on behalf of the employee in the<\/p>\n<p>whole of the report.\n<\/p>\n<p>       12. On receipt of the report, a detailed<\/p>\n<p>petition was submitted by the employee before the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary authority pinpointing every defect in<\/p>\n<p>the Enquiry Report as such.    Thus, the employee did<\/p>\n<p>everything to defend himself in the Enquiry.<\/p>\n<p>       13. It is contended that a personal hearing<\/p>\n<p>was conducted by the Managing Director in November,<\/p>\n<p>2001 [16.11.2001] and ultimately it was 14 months&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 8 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\nthereafter that the final order was passed on<\/p>\n<p>19.2.2003, i.e., on the eve of his retirement on<\/p>\n<p>28.2.2003.   Therefore, the personal hearing was<\/p>\n<p>nothing but a formality and there is lack of<\/p>\n<p>application  of  the   mind    by  the  disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>authority. This is evident by the cryptic manner in<\/p>\n<p>which Ext.P34 has been passed.    Though a detailed<\/p>\n<p>memorandum of appeal was submitted traversing each<\/p>\n<p>one of the findings in the Enquiry Report, the same<\/p>\n<p>was  also  met  with  a    cryptic  appellate  order<\/p>\n<p>Ext.P41.   He submits that ultimately the only<\/p>\n<p>purpose achieved by the management, in initiating<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner and<\/p>\n<p>terminating him on the eve of his retirement was to<\/p>\n<p>deny him the benefit of promotion to the post of<\/p>\n<p>Regional Manager and in said process enable 4 of<\/p>\n<p>his juniors to get promotion.   Since the petitioner<\/p>\n<p>retired on 28.2.2003, even if this court accepts<\/p>\n<p>his  contention,  it  could    only result  in   the<\/p>\n<p>management being required to give the petitioner<\/p>\n<p>the benefit of a promotion from the date on which<\/p>\n<p>his immediate juniors were promoted and it is<\/p>\n<p>prayed   that   consequential    benefits   may  be<\/p>\n<p>reflected, at least, in his retirement benefits.<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 9 ::\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>       14. Learned counsel for the respondents, on<\/p>\n<p>the other hand, submits that strict rules are<\/p>\n<p>obviously  not  applicable      to  the  disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>proceedings.  There seems to have been laches on<\/p>\n<p>the  part  of   the  petitioner     in  dragging  the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary proceedings.      None of the documents<\/p>\n<p>sought for by him was strictly relevant and what<\/p>\n<p>was relevant was supplied to him.     In the ultimate<\/p>\n<p>analysis,  the  petitioner     was  let  off  with  a<\/p>\n<p>warning, whereas a more severe punishment could<\/p>\n<p>have  been   awarded.  Learned     counsel  for   the<\/p>\n<p>respondents submitted that there is no reason for<\/p>\n<p>interference under Article 226 of the Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>       15. Having heard counsel on both sides and<\/p>\n<p>having perused the Enquiry Report and the other<\/p>\n<p>documents  placed  on   record     and  the  detailed<\/p>\n<p>explanation offered by the petitioner, I am of the<\/p>\n<p>view that the petitioner is well founded in his<\/p>\n<p>contention that there has been violation of the<\/p>\n<p>principles of natural justice in the conduct of the<\/p>\n<p>enquiry, which, to an extent was carried forth up<\/p>\n<p>to the final stage of the disciplinary proceedings<\/p>\n<p>resulting  in  the   final     order  passed by   the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary authority.\n<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                       :: 10 ::\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>       16. As was noted above, the petitioner made<\/p>\n<p>a request, at the earliest stage of disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>proceedings, for supply of copies of the documents.<\/p>\n<p>If the charges levelled against him Ext.P4 are<\/p>\n<p>perused, it can be seen that the documents sought<\/p>\n<p>for by him cannot be considered as unnecessary or<\/p>\n<p>otherwise totally irrelevant,    nor could it be<\/p>\n<p>contended that the documents are otherwise not<\/p>\n<p>available.  The management would obviously be the<\/p>\n<p>custodian of the documents and unless there is a<\/p>\n<p>weighty reason for not permitting or disclosing the<\/p>\n<p>same (I do not think it is possible for the<\/p>\n<p>management to take up a contention in that behalf<\/p>\n<p>in relation to the document sought for by the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner), then the principles of natural justice<\/p>\n<p>dictated that the copies of the documents may be<\/p>\n<p>made available to the employee. Of course, if some<\/p>\n<p>documents like voluminous registers or other books<\/p>\n<p>maintained by the management in the usual course of<\/p>\n<p>business  are  sought, then    it is open  to   the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner to note down the details, photo copies<\/p>\n<p>taken and then permitted to be marked.      If the<\/p>\n<p>logistics prevented photo copies being taken and<\/p>\n<p>supplied in the case of all the documents, then a<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 11 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\nsuitable reply should have been given in that<\/p>\n<p>regard to the petitioner. Even in such cases, where<\/p>\n<p>the petitioner seeks production of some of those<\/p>\n<p>documents before the Enquiry Officer, they should<\/p>\n<p>have been produced.   If the management was unable<\/p>\n<p>to  do  so,  then  explanation    should  have been<\/p>\n<p>offered.\n<\/p>\n<p>       17. The request made before the Enquiry<\/p>\n<p>Officer for copies of the documents produced by the<\/p>\n<p>management   were   not     seriously   heeded  to.<\/p>\n<p>Apparently,  they  were  supplied   only  after the<\/p>\n<p>management witnesses were examined.      One should<\/p>\n<p>remember that the series of charges relatable to<\/p>\n<p>functions and duties discharged by the petitioner<\/p>\n<p>over several number of years as a Branch Manager at<\/p>\n<p>Kalpetta essentially formed the subject matter of<\/p>\n<p>enquiry and it would not be reasonable to presume<\/p>\n<p>that an officer would be able to give a suitable<\/p>\n<p>and fitting reply against the charges levelled,<\/p>\n<p>unless he is supplied with the copies of the<\/p>\n<p>documents sought for by him and is then afforded a<\/p>\n<p>reasonable time to go through the same and give an<\/p>\n<p>explanation.   Such an opportunity seems to have<\/p>\n<p>been denied to the petitioner.\n<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                       :: 12 ::\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>       18. Learned counsel for the respondents is<\/p>\n<p>correct in saying that strict rules would not be<\/p>\n<p>imported to disciplinary proceedings.      Rules of<\/p>\n<p>evidence which are otherwise afforded in courts,<\/p>\n<p>say, that objections regarding document should be<\/p>\n<p>heard before the same is permitted to be admitted<\/p>\n<p>in evidence and that mere admission of a document<\/p>\n<p>will not amount to proof of its contents is also<\/p>\n<p>not  a  principle,  which    is  not  strictly made<\/p>\n<p>applicable to disciplinary proceedings.   But there<\/p>\n<p>is one rule which is applied without any dilution<\/p>\n<p>in all disciplinary proceedings.     The delinquent<\/p>\n<p>must be given a chance to defend himself properly<\/p>\n<p>and if he requests for the documents, which are in<\/p>\n<p>the custody to the employer, it must be supplied to<\/p>\n<p>him, unless there are adequate reasons for refusing<\/p>\n<p>this facility.   It is not the management&#8217;s case<\/p>\n<p>that any one or all the documents sought for by the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner could not have been disclosed before the<\/p>\n<p>Enquiry Officer.\n<\/p>\n<p>       19. I also agree with the learned counsel<\/p>\n<p>for the petitioner that Ext.P34 reveals a non-<\/p>\n<p>application  of  the   mind    by  the  disciplinary<\/p>\n<p>authority.  The further procedure followed by the<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 13 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\ndisciplinary  authority  in     affording  a  personal<\/p>\n<p>hearing  in  November,  2002     and  then  taking   a<\/p>\n<p>decision thereon, after a period of 14 months, on<\/p>\n<p>the eve of the petitioner&#8217;s retirement, is also<\/p>\n<p>reflective of an attitude, which did not reflect an<\/p>\n<p>anxiety to conform to the principles of natural<\/p>\n<p>justice.    It  could  be   a    case  of  either the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary  authority  considering     the  personal<\/p>\n<p>hearing as an empty formality or a case where the<\/p>\n<p>authority has already taken a decision prior to the<\/p>\n<p>personal hearing and then deciding to defer the<\/p>\n<p>issuance of an order till the eve of the retirement<\/p>\n<p>of the petitioner.    One is not able to give any<\/p>\n<p>other reasonable explanation for the fact that a<\/p>\n<p>personal hearing was afforded to the petitioner on<\/p>\n<p>16.11.2001, but Ext.P34 came to be passed 14 months<\/p>\n<p>thereafter,  on   the  eve      of  the   petitioner&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>retirement-on  28.2.2003.       I  am,  therefore,  in<\/p>\n<p>agreement with the contention of the petitioner<\/p>\n<p>that, there has been a violation of the principles<\/p>\n<p>of natural justice.\n<\/p>\n<p>       20. I further take note of the contention<\/p>\n<p>taken by the petitioner that there seems to have<\/p>\n<p>been a pronounced selective appreciation of the<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 14 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\ndocuments by the Enquiry Officer.    Exts.D1 to D28<\/p>\n<p>were marked on the side of the employee.   Dws.1 to<\/p>\n<p>11 were examined.   Except for a reference in two<\/p>\n<p>places, the Enquiry Report is completely silent<\/p>\n<p>regarding either the merits of the defence evidence<\/p>\n<p>or the lack of it, as the case may be.     In fact,<\/p>\n<p>there is not even a reference to the documents or<\/p>\n<p>evidence adduced by the employee, if not, for<\/p>\n<p>accepting it, at least, for declaring that the same<\/p>\n<p>are irrelevant.  In short, the evidence adduced by<\/p>\n<p>the employee seems to have been completely ignored,<\/p>\n<p>which was obviously unjust.\n<\/p>\n<p>       21. In the circumstances, I am of the view<\/p>\n<p>that the disciplinary proceedings which resulted in<\/p>\n<p>Ext.P34 order was vitiated by the principles of<\/p>\n<p>natural justice.  Petitioner was not dealt with in<\/p>\n<p>a fair manner by the disciplinary authority.    The<\/p>\n<p>serious  objections  raised     by him against  the<\/p>\n<p>findings in the Enquiry Report have not merited<\/p>\n<p>even a cursory consideration at the hands of the<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary authority.    Petitioner was denied an<\/p>\n<p>opportunity to prosecute a challenge against the<\/p>\n<p>order passed by the disciplinary authority, even<\/p>\n<p>when he was in service and therefore, he was denied<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                        :: 15 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\na reasonable chance to seek a promotion to the next<\/p>\n<p>higher post of Regional Manager, which otherwise he<\/p>\n<p>would have been entitled to.      I am in agreement<\/p>\n<p>with the contention taken up by the learned counsel<\/p>\n<p>for the petitioner that essentially the petitioner<\/p>\n<p>was handed a raw deal.\n<\/p>\n<p>       22. An instrumentality of the State is<\/p>\n<p>expected to act in a fair and reasonable manner.<\/p>\n<p>It is true that the petitioner has retired from<\/p>\n<p>service on 28.2.2003.  It is, therefore, necessary<\/p>\n<p>for this court to mould the reliefs, which the<\/p>\n<p>petitioner is entitled to.    In the circumstances, I<\/p>\n<p>do not think, the petitioner would be entitled to<\/p>\n<p>wages of the Regional Manager from the date on<\/p>\n<p>which his juniors were promoted to the said post,<\/p>\n<p>till the date of his retirement.     But, having said<\/p>\n<p>so, I am of the view that his retirement benefits<\/p>\n<p>should  reflect  the  higher    pay,  which  he   was<\/p>\n<p>entitled to, had he been promoted as Regional<\/p>\n<p>Manager at the appropriate time.\n<\/p>\n<p>       In   the  result,    the   writ  petition   is<\/p>\n<p>allowed.  Exts.P34 and P41 are set aside.     The 2nd<\/p>\n<p>respondent  is  directed    to   pass  fresh  orders,<\/p>\n<p>treating the petitioner as having been eligible for<\/p>\n<p>W.P.(C).NO.34691\/04<\/p>\n<p>                          :: 16 ::\n<\/p>\n<p>\npromotion to the post of Regional Manager, with<\/p>\n<p>reference  to    the   date  on   which his immediate<\/p>\n<p>juniors were promoted as per Ext.P2 list.    The last<\/p>\n<p>drawn pay of the petitioner as on 28.2.2003 should,<\/p>\n<p>therefore, be worked out as if the petitioner had<\/p>\n<p>been promoted as the Regional Manager with effect<\/p>\n<p>from the above date and the retirement benefits due<\/p>\n<p>to the petitioner shall be recomputed accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>The process, as outlined above, shall be completed<\/p>\n<p>and the benefits due to the petitioner shall be<\/p>\n<p>disbursed within a period of three months from the<\/p>\n<p>date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.<\/p>\n<p>                                           Sd\/-\n<\/p>\n<p>                                          (V.GIRI)<br \/>\n                                           JUDGE<br \/>\nsk\/<\/p>\n<p>         \/\/true copy\/\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kerala High Court K.Pocker vs The Kerala State Financial &#8230; on 21 October, 2008 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM WP(C).No. 34691 of 2004(E) 1. K.POCKER, S\/O.KUNHIKUTTY ALI HAJI, &#8230; Petitioner Vs 1. THE KERALA STATE FINANCIAL ENTERPRISES &#8230; Respondent 2. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, 3. M.K.KARTHIKEYAN, 4. SRI.P.K.RADHAKRISHNAN, ADVOCATE, For Petitioner :SRI.S.V.BALAKRISHNA IYER [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-198322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-high-court","category-kerala-high-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>K.Pocker vs The Kerala State Financial ... on 21 October, 2008 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/k-pocker-vs-the-kerala-state-financial-on-21-october-2008\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"K.Pocker vs The Kerala State Financial ... on 21 October, 2008 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; 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