Viswanatha Iyer, J.

The petitioner, which is a Co-operative Society registered under the Kerala Cooperative Societies Act, 1969, has filed this original petition challenging the order Ext. P5 of the second respondent, the District Labour Officer, Palghat, the competent authority under the Kerala Payment of Subsistence Allowance Act, 1972. Act 27 of 1973 (the act) directing payment to the third respondent of an amount of Rs.8,800/- as subsistence allowance under the said Act for the period 7-2-1984 to 31-1-1985.

2. The third respondent was borne in the category of Branch Manager, and was the manager of the branch of the petitioner Bank at Kacheri Medu. The Head Office of the petitioner is elsewhere in Chittoor. On the allegation that the third respondent and the Assistant Secretary of the petitioner Bank had defalcated money to the tune of Rs.5,00,000/- the petitioner kept the third respondent under suspension by the resolution of its managing committee dated February, 2,1984, served on the third respondent on 6-2-1984. The third respondent was drawing a salary ofRs.1,022/- per month at that time. He applied for payment of subsistence allowance under the Act for the period