The petitioner is a retired employee of the Kidangoor Service Co-operative Bank Limited, of which the first respondent is the President. The liability of the bank for payment of gratuity to the petitioner was covered by a Group Insurance Policy issued by the second respondent. In terms of the policy, the entire amount of gratuity due to the petitioner was paid to the first respondent by the second respondent. As per Exhibits P1 and P2, the entire amount so received from the second respondent was paid to the petitioner. According to the counsel for the petitioner, an objection has been raised that the petitioner had been paid amounts in excess of what is actually due to him under the Payment of Gratuity Act. The petitioner apprehend that action would be initiated against him for recovery of the excess amount. 2. The counsel for the second respondent Dr.Abraham P.Meachinkara submits that the entire amount due as per the W.P.(C). No.10549 of 2014 -: 2 :-
terms of the insurance policy was paid to the first respondent and that the said amount has been paid to the petitioner also. Reliance is placed on the decision of this Court reported in Retnavalli v. Ambalapadu Service Co-operative Bank Ltd. [2005(3) KLT 320] as well as the decision reported in Mathew Kora v. Kadathuruthy Urban Cooperative Bank and others [ILR 2013 (4) Kerala 933] to contend that, the entire amount due under the Insurance Policy for coverage of the liability of gratuity is to be paid to the petitioner. There is no dispute regarding the above legal position.
In view of the above, this writ petition is disposed of declaring that the petitioner has no liability to return any portion of the amount that he has received as per the terms of the Group Insurance Policy that the first respondent had taken with the second respondent for coverage of the liability for payment of gratuity to the petitioner.
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K. SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE.
Jvt