LALITHA B. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Aggrieved by the retention of gratuity amount due to the petitioner, who demitted her office as Helper from the service of the respondents, she has come up before this Court. The petitioner who was a Helper in the Maveli Store, Vettukad, retired from the service on 31/05/2004. The petitioner alleges that she faced a disciplinary action on the allegation that she caused shortage of commodities worth Rs. 63,975/- during the period ranging from 01/04/98 to 31/12/98 and as per Exts. P4 and P5, recovery was ordered for Rs. 63,571.60 at the rate of Rs. 2,500/- per month from her salary from October, 2003 onwards till her retirement.

(2.) The petitioner would allege that the disciplinary action was biased and her present grievance is that as per Ext. P12, a sum of Rs. 45,130/- was ordered to be retained from the gratuity amount due to her. This, according to the petitioner is illegal.

(3.) I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel for the respondent Corporation and the learned Senior Government Pleader.