Kottayam: An officer dismissed from the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) following vigilance and departmental action has been reinstated after 11 years, with full service benefits restored, a move reportedly worth around ₹50 lakh.

The officer, a native of Pathanamthitta, was suspended and dismissed on June 10, 1994, while serving as the resident manager of Ettumanoor Devaswom. He was later reinstated on May 12, 2005, after submitting an appeal citing the hardship he had endured during his suspension.

In 2018, the TDB’s administrative committee granted him promotions and service benefits for the entire period of dismissal, taking into account what it termed the “misery” he faced for 11 years.

The officer retired as Sub-Group Officer of Pattazhi Devaswom on May 31, 2016. He had earlier written to the board stating that he would not seek financial benefits for the suspension period, but later filed applications in 2016 and 2017 seeking reinstatement and back benefits.

Initially, the board decided to count the suspension period only for pension purposes. However, after the officer approached the High Court, the board, under its then-president A Padmakumar, conducted a hearing as directed by the court. Following this, the entire 11-year suspension was treated as duty, granting him pension, leave, and promotional benefits, with only a 10 per cent deduction in back pay.

The salary and other allowances during the period of dismissal were reduced by only 10 per cent. Although there were allegations of collusion with the knowledge of higher-ups, the service organisations also remained silent on the evasive moves.