IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC TUESDAY, THE 3RD AUGUST 2010 / 12TH SRAVANA 1932 WP(C).No. 24244 of 2010(E) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. ABHILASH, VILLAGE OFFICER, KAYAMKULAM (UNDER SUSPENSION) RESIDING AT MULAMOOTIL, PERINGALA P.O., KAYAMKULAM, ALAPPUZHA. 2. SHIBU, SPECIAL VILLAGE OFFICER, KAYAMKULAM ((UNDER SUSPENSION) RESIDING AT MADAKKAL, NEAR M.S.M.COLLEGE, KAYAMKULAM P.O., ALAPPUZHA. BY ADV. SRI.GEORGE VARGHESE(PERUMPALLIKUTTIYIL) SRI.A.R.DILEEP SRI.V.SUNIL KUMAR (PANACHAMOODU) SRI.H.JAWHAR RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDINGS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ALAPPUZHA. 4. DEPUTY COLLECTOR (VIGILANCE), SOUTH ZONE, CIVIL STATION, KUDAPPANAKUNNU. 5. TAHSILDAR, KARTHIKAPALLY. MR.ARAVIND KUMAR BABU, GOVERNMENT PLEADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03/08/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ------------------------- W.P.(C.) No.24244 of 2010 (E) --------------------------------- Dated, this the 3rd day of August, 2010 J U D G M E N T First petitioner is a Village Officer and the 2nd petitioner is a Special Village Officer. Both were posted at Kayamkulam. On the allegations of certain misconducts, by Ext.P2 order dated 27/03/2010 issued by the 2nd respondent, they were placed under suspension. Against this order, the petitioners have filed Exts.P3 & P4 appeals before the 1st respondent. During the pendency of the appeals, Exts.P5 & P6 memo of charges were issued. On receipt of these memo of charges, they have submitted Exts.P7 & P8 written statements of defence. 2. In this writ petition, although the petitioners are challenging the very disciplinary proceedings itself, in my view, it is for the petitioners to face the enquiry and prove their innocence. However, Exts.P3 & P4 appeals filed by the petitioners against Ext.P2 order placing them under suspension are pending consideration of the 1st respondent, and therefore, disposal of the appeals deserve to WP(C) No.24244/2010 -2- be expedited. Therefore, I direct the 1st respondent to consider Exts.P3 & P4 appeals filed by the petitioners as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within six weeks of production of a copy of this judgment, along with a copy of this writ petition. This writ petition is disposed of as above. (ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE) jg