An employee was convicted in a criminal case for violating integrity norms with an appeal still pending in the High Court The Kerala High Court had previously ruled in favor ... of employees stating that DCRG should be released even while a criminal appeal is ongoing The Government of Kerala appealed this decision to the Supreme Court The question arose whether an employee convicted in a criminal case with an appeal pending is still entitled to the release of their Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity Finally the Supreme Court ruled that the High Court's judgment could not be sustained The Supreme Court opined that the Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity would not have to be released to the respondents while the criminal appeal is pending considering it a hiatus period where arrangements are dependent on the appeal's outcome The impugned judgment was set aside and the appeals were allowed meaning the DCRG does not have to be released during the pendency of the criminal appeal