Kerala High Court Passes Unusual Order Recommending Promotion For A Govt Pleader As Senior Govt Pleader
Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has passed an unusual order containing a recommendation to promote Government Pleader Parvathy Kottol, who has completed over twelve years of legal practice as per the order, as a Senior Government Pleader.
Justice D.K. Singh has observed in an order, “Ms. Parvathy Kottol, the learned Government Pleader, who may be designated as Senior Government Pleader as she has completed more than twelve years of practice and the Government has yet not designated her as Senior Government Pleader, for which the necessary decision is to be taken by the Government...”
The petition was filed by the wife of the late Assistant Educational Officer and their daughter. The petitioners have sought urgent disbursal of the Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) due to them, citing bureaucratic delays and procedural lapses.
During the proceedings, Advocate Parvathy Kottol, the Government Pleader representing the State, requested time to submit objections to the interim application. The Court granted her a period of three weeks, posting the matter for further consideration on June 26, 2025.
The Court heard arguments from the petitioners’ counsel, who contended that despite the completion of formalities, the DCRG amount has not yet been released by the Treasury, allegedly due to the non-issuance of a No Liability Certificate (NLC) by the Deputy Director of Education, the 3rd respondent in the case.
The interim relief sought includes a direction to the Deputy Director of Education to issue the NLC to the Sub Treasury Officer at Kayamkulam, thereby enabling the release of the gratuity without further delay.
The Court granted the State Government three weeks' time to file its objections in a writ petition concerning delayed pensionary benefits for the family of a deceased government official.
Advocate Parvathy Kottol was appointed as a government pleader with effect from August 01, 2021 as per the State Government's Order.
As per the said government order, the Kerala High Court has Special Government Pleaders, Senior Government Pleaders and Government Pleaders to represent the State before the Kerala High Court.
Justice D.K. Singh was transferred from the Allahabad High Court to the Kerala High Court after the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendation on July 12, 2023. The Centre notified his transfer on July 15, 2023.
The executive committee of the Avadh Bar Association of the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench had taken a unanimous decision to not organize the felicitation ceremony in honour of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, on his transfer alleging that Justice Singh had displayed a lack of respect towards lawyers and used abusive language towards the Awadh Bar Association.
On May 26, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended transfer of Justice D.K. Singh to the Karnataka High Court from the Kerala High Court. However, the Centre is yet to act on the said recommendation.
Cause Title: Deepa. S & Anr. v. The State Of Kerala & Ors.
