P.Satyavathi v. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport

Dated : 22.07.2016 Between:

P.Satyavathi C/o P.J.Rao, r/o Bala Sadanam, Kasibugga, Srikakulam district.

.... Petitioner And Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, N.E.Coastral Region, Visakhapatnam and another.

....Respondents This Court made the following :

ORDER :

Heard Smt K.Udayasri, learned counsel for petitioner and Ms. C.Avani Reddy, counsel holding for Sri S.V.Ramana, learned standing counsel for respondents.

2. The husband of the petitioner, while working as Driver, retired from service on medical grounds on 12.09.1994. After his retirement, he died on 14.11.1994. This writ petition is filed praying to direct the respondents to release the amount of Rs.50,000/- under the Staff Benevolent-cum-Thrift (S.B.T.) account; additional monetary benefit of Rs.50,000/-; and amount of Rs.25,000/- under Employees' Deposit Link Insurance Fund (EDLIF) along with 12% interest per annum.

3. Based on the averments made in the counter affidavit, learned counsel Ms. C.Avani Reddy submits that while in service the husband of the petitioner retired on medical grounds and when a person retired on medical grounds, his family members are not entitled to seek compassionate appointment and also not entitled to the additional monetary benefit and EDLIF. It is her case that EDLIF benefits are applicable only to the employees, who died while in service. She further submits that all the benefits payable to the petitioner were settled as early as in the year 1996. According to the learned counsel, gratuity amount of Rs.2,000/-, provident fund amount of Rs.11,180/-, SBT amount of Rs.1,898/- were paid in the year 1996 and pension is also settled. This assertion of the respondents is not denied by the petitioner.

4. No other material is placed on record to show that even if a person retired on medical grounds and subsequently dies, his family members are entitled to claim compassionate appointment. Learned counsel for petitioner also fairly submits that benefit of EDLIF is available only if a person dies while in service. I, therefore, see no merit in the writ petition and writ petition is accordingly dismissed.

Miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in this writ petition shall stand dismissed. No costs.

____________________ P.NAVEEN RAO, J Date: 22.07.2016 kkm

Date : 22.07.2016 kkm