All India Service retirees to have pension benefits withheld until case resolution, rules High Court

KOCHI: The High Court has directed not to grant full pension or other benefits until the departmental and judicial proceedings against the All India Service retirees are over. The order was issued by a division bench comprising Justice A. Muhammad Mushtaq and Justice A.A. Abdul Hakeem.

The judgment came in response to the government's appeal against the Central Administrative Tribunal's decision to grant gratuity and pension commutation to former DGPS Pulikeshi.

Pulikeshi had approached the tribunal questioning the withholding of benefits due to a corruption case registered in 2001 when he was the MD of Supplyco. The case is pending consideration in the Ernakulam CBI court. The Tribunal ruled that there was no provision to withhold pension and gratuity.

The High Court directed the trial to be completed within nine months and a final order to be passed. Accordingly, the petition was disposed of by directing departmental proceedings to be completed.