PM WILSON Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this batch of original petitions, the petitioners who formerly worked in the Water Resources Department as Seasonal Labour Roll (SLR) workers claim pensionary benefits, contending that they retired from their employment after decades of continuous service in the department and were denied equal treatment, as the Government has given pensionary benefits to similarly placed employees retired from the Fisheries Department.

(2.) They approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal while they were continuing as SLR workers seeking directions to regularise their service, to permit them to continue up to the age of 60 years and to grant pensionary benefits. The Tribunal disposed of the applications by observing that it is open to the Government to consider their requests for treatment on par with similarly placed persons. The petitioners challenged the said order for the reason that the Tribunal ought to have granted the reliefs sought in view of the various declarations of law by the Apex court.

(3.) Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and the learned Senior Government Pleader. For ease of convenience, we take O.P.(KAT)No.380/2024 as the leading case.