Court affirms obligation of state authorities to disburse retirement benefits once disciplinary proceedings are resolved.

JUDGMENT

Heard Sri. A. Jayasankar, the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Sri. Sunil Nath, the learned Government Pleader appearing for respondents Nos.1 to 3 and Sri. Antony Mukkath, the learned counsel appearing for the 4^th respondent.

2. The petitioner is stated to have been an Upper Division Typist to the 4^th respondent college who was charge-sheeted and awarded a punishment of compulsory retirement from 01.08.2017. The afore decision was the subject matter of challenge in CRP (Uty) No.3/2019 before this Court.

3. The petitioner complains that his retirement benefits including monthly pension, commuted value of pension, Death cum Retirement Gratuity, etc., were not paid to him, essentially on account of the pendency of CRP (Uty)

No.3/2019.

4. On 25.08.2025, this Court issued the following directions:

“The prayer in the writ petition is for a direction to disburse the retirement benefits. In the counter affidavit of the 3rd respondent it has been stated that CRP(UTY) No.3/2019 filed by the petitioner is pending before this Court and the retirement benefits can be disbursed only after the said proceedings are over.

2. When the case is taken up, the counsel for the petitioner submitted that by judgment dated 02.04.2025, CRP(UTY) No.3/2019 has already been dismissed by a Division Bench of this Court. In the above circumstances, there will be a direction to the respondents to take necessary steps for disbursal of the retirement benefits in accordance with law within one month from today. “

5. I am of the opinion that, in so far as the CRP (Uty) No.3/2019 has already been dismissed, the respondents require to take steps for disbursing the retirement benefits for the petitioner as already directed by this Court on

25.08.2025.

6. Though the counsel for the petitioner states that in spite of the direction dated 25.08.2025, the retirement benefits are yet to be disposed of, I am of the opinion that this writ petition can be disposed of in terms of the Interim order dated 25.08.2025.

In such circumstances, this writ petition would stand disposed of in terms of the Interim order dated 25.08.2025. There will a direction to the 4^th respondent to take immediate steps for disbursing the retirement benefits to the petitioner herein.

Sd/-