Gratuity payment by the Company

I had served a private company at a Senior Level for Nine years and had to leave the services owing to non payment of salary and ideological differences with the Chairman& Managing Director of the Company , I waited till my term of service for retirement date (58 years) to reach in terms of my appointment order and after two months later to my retirement date, I left the company without submitting formal resignation letter on the ground it was not required as my tenure of service was completed after reaching 58 years. The Company had a Group Gratuity Scheme from LIC of India under a Trusteeship Deed and in terms of which there was no enabling clause for direct submission of claim of gratuity by the employee and it would suffice if any two Trustees submit the claim application even without the notice or knowledge or consent of the employee concerned . Taking advantage of this , the Company had preferred a claim of gratuity of my dues and had the amount transferred to its Trust A/c held with a bank without notice to me. Six months later when the issue was verified by me with the said bank , I was informed by LIC to my shell shock that the proceeds were already transferred to the Trust a/c of the Company six months prior to my verification . On taking up the issue with the Company , much to my chagrin , I was informed that no claim was ever made with LIC and that no amount was ever transferred to the company . My letting in of evidence was flatly denied by CMD. Therafter I had submitted a formal claim under Form I with the Company and owing to lack of response from the Company, an enquiry was instituted with the labour dept before the Deputy Labour Commissioner Chennai . The case is admitted and the Main proceedings are in progress. The complaint is being challenged by the company on the ground that I have not submitted my formal resignation and on moral turpitude for which no evidence has been let in by the company. My queries under the circumstances : 1. Is a formal resignation on completion of retirement age in terms of the Appointment Order is a pre condition for claim of gratuity by the company.? 2. Can the company in the absence of any disciplinary proceedings has the right to decline my claim on grounds of bald allegations of moral turpitude? Will be grateful to receive legal views in support of my legitimate claim ,