Page 1 Item Nos. 18 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL WP(C) No. 467 of 2024 Jeevan Limbu …Petitioner/s Vrs. State of Manipur & 3 Ors …Respondent/s -B E F O R E- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH 01.04.2026 [1] Heard Mr. S. Lokhendro, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner; Mr. Shyam Sharma, learned GA appearing for the respondent nos. 1, 2 & 4; and Mr. S. Jasobanta, learned counsel appearing for the respondent no. 3. [2] The present writ petition has been filed with a prayer for directing the respondents to sanction the gratuity amount due payable to the petitioner upon his retirement from service on attaining the age of superannuation w.e.f 01.01.2015. It is the case of the petitioner that in contemplation of a departmental enquiry against him, the petitioner was placed under suspension by issuing an order dated 04.12.2013 by the Secretariat Revenue Department and that subsequently while the petitioner was under suspension, he retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation. [3] It has been submitted on behalf of the petitioner that after the petitioner retired from service, the authorities have Lucy Gurum ayum Digitally signed by Lucy Gurumayum Date: 2026.04.01 17:21:34 +05'30' Page 2 released all the pensionary benefit due payable to the petitioner and the petitioner is enjoying his pensionary benefit. However, the authorities have failed to release the amount of gratuity due payable to the petitioner till date. Hence the present writ petition. [4] Mr. Shyam Sharma, learned GA appearing for the respondent nos. 1, 2 & 4 by drawing attention of this court to the affidavit-in-opposition file on behalf of the respondent no.2, more particularly at para 3 of the said affidavit-in-opposition submitted that the authorities have initiated necessary procedure for granting gratuity to the petitioner. Para 3 of the said affidavit-in-opposition of respondent no. 2 are reproduced here under:- “3. That, the answering deponent beg to submit subsequent development that the Land Resources Department has reviewed the Case matter and has reached the following conclusion that since there is no Disciplinary Proceeding initiated so far by this Department and non-Registration of FIR against Jeevan Limbu as per the records furnished by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi, Gratuity amount due to the petitioner Jeevan Limbu may be paid considering the fact that other pension benefits have already been released. Further, the respondent No. 4/the Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi was directed to initiate the necessary procedure for granting gratuity to the petitioner vide letter dated 11.02.2026 issued by the Government of Manipur.” Page 3 [5] Mr. S. Jasobanta, learned counsel appearing for the Accountant General submitted that as no intimation or document has been forwarded from the Administrative Department, the respondent no. 3 is not in a position to release the gratuity due payable to the petitioner and that as and when an intimation or necessary document is furnished from the Administrative Department, the gratuity due payable to the petitioner will be released as soon as possible. [6] In view of the undisputed position recorded hereinabove, this Court is of the considered view that the present writ petition can be disposed of by issuing the following directions:- The respondents are hereby directed to complete the process for payment of the gratuity amount due payable to the petitioner and release the same as early as possible but not later than 3(three) months from today. [7] With the aforesaid directions, the present writ petition is disposed. JUDGE Lucy