IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN MONDAY, THE 16TH MARCH 2009 / 25TH PHALGUNA 1930 WP(C).No. 11916 of 2005(R) ----------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ------------------------ DR.MARY JULIET FRANCIS, HOUSE NO.25/37, WEST YAKARA ROAD, PALAKKAD-678 014. BY ADVS. MR.P.SANKARANKUTTY NAIR, MR.T.V.AJAYAKUMAR, MR.K.SANDESH RAJA. RESPONDENT(S): -------------------------- 1. KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PATTOM, PALACE P.O., TRIVANDRUM-695 004, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY. 2. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. DR.JACOB MATHEW, KALAYAN KIRIL, PAMPADY P.O.,KOTTAYAM. *ADDL.R4 TO R7 ARE IMPLEADED: R4. MAGNA THOMAS, KONUPARAMBIL, 1/202 DON BOSCO ROAD, IRINJALAKUDA – 680 121. R5. RAKHI.K.R., AKSHARA, RAVIVARMA LANE, ATTINGAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 695 101. Kss ..2/- ....2..... WPC.NO.11916/2005 R R6. JITHU JOHN MATHEW, TC 46/434, 'AVE MARIA', PUTHURKKARA ROAD, AYYANTHOLE, THRISSUR, PIN – 680 003. R7. DR. REJI VARGHESE, MUTHUKATTU HOUSE, KOTTAPPURAM ROAD, THRISSUR – 680 004. (*ADDL.R4 TO R7 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DTD. 7/10/05 IN I.A.NO.12945/2005) **ADDL.R8 TO R19 ARE IMPLEADED: R8. RAJEEV.M., S/O.K.MURALIDHARAN PILLAI, PUZHINJIYIL HOUSE, KOTTATHALA P.O., KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM. R9. ISSAC GEORGE, C/O.UNNY THOMAS, 1ST FLOOR, P.R.K.COMPLEX, KAMNASA STREET, PALAKKAD – 1. R10. KURIAKOSE ALOSH PETER, S/O.PETER, AGED 31 YEARS, 'QUEEN MARY', DOWN STREET, PARAVATANI, THRISSUR. R11. KISHORE KUMAR K.S., S/O.SANAKARAN NAMBUDIRI, AGED 35 YEARS, KARAKKAT ILLAM, KUNDAMALOOR P.O., KOTTAYAM. R12. MANOJ M.VARGHESE, S/O.VARGHESE, AGED 29 YEARS, KADAVITAKUNNUVILA, THIRIKKANNAMANGAL, KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM. R13. ACTY GEORGE, S/O.GEORGE MAMPILLY, AGED 30 YEARS, MAMPILI HOUSE, TIPPU NAGAR, MANNARKKAD, PALAKKAD DIST. R14. PREETHA K., PALLATH HOUSE, CHEROOR P.O., THRISSUR – 680 008. R15. SIJI.P.C., PAROKARM HOUSE, GANDHI NAGAR, BEHIND METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL, THRISSUR. R16. VIVEKEASANKARA, S/O.DR. C.V.VENUGOPAL, 'VRINDAVAN', PUTHANPALLI P.O.,MAMMIYOOR, GURUVAYUR, THRISSUR. R17. DIVYA P.I., 'SOUPARNIKA', ANCHUPEDIKA P.O., VIA MOTTAMMAL, KANNUR. Kss ...3/- ....3....... WPC.NO.11916/2005 R R18. DAVID ABRAHAM, S/O.ABRAHAM DAVID, AGED 29 YEARS, 'GREEN DALE', FATHIMA NAGAR, KIZHAKKEKOTTA, THRISSUR. R19. JEEVA L., W/O.SAJU, AGED 30 YEARS, 'GOKULAM', MANGANNUR, GONAM LANE, PATTOM, TRIVANDRUM – 2. (**ADDL.R8 TO R19 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DTD. 16/11/2006 IN I.A.NO.15860/06) ***ADDL.R20 & R21 ARE IMPLEADED: R20. SMITHA KAIMAL, D/O.K.NARAYANA KAIMAL, ALAPPATT, PANAMATTOM P.O., KOORALI, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. R21. LEENAMOL.K., D/O.M.KUNJUKUNJU, PALAVILAYIL HOUSE, MYLOM (P.O.), KOTTARAKKARA, KOLLAM DISTRICT. (***ADDL.R20 & R21 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DTD. 28/11/2006 IN I.A.NO.16654/06) R1 BY ADV. MR.ALEXANDER THOMAS,SC,KPSC R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR. T.B. HOOD R4 TO R7 BY ADV. MR.ELVIN PETER P.J. R8 TO R19 BY ADV. MR.JACOB SEBASTIAN R20 & R21 BY ADV. MR.NAGARAJ NARAYANAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 12/03/2008 ALONG WITH WPC NO. 11906 OF 2006 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON 16/03/2009 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss WPC.NO.11916/2005 R APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1: COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION PUBLISHED IN THOZHIHL VARTHA AN EMPLOYMENT NEWS WEEKLY DTD. 1/09/2003. EXT.P2: COPY OF THE DEGREE CERTIFICATE AWARDED IN KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY DTD. 8/08/2002. EXT.P3: COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE DTD. 4/09/2001. EXT.P4: COPY OF THE ADMISSION TICKET DTD. 25/08/2004. EXT.P5: COPY OF THE OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF RULES AND REGULATION. EXT.P6: COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION IN SHORT LISTS. EXT.P7: COPY OF THE CIRCULAR NO.17/87 DTD. 4/07/1987. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS: N I L /TRUE COPY/ P.S.TO JUDGE Kss CR K.Balakrishnan Nair, A.K.Basheer & P.N.Ravindran, JJ. ======================================== W.P. (C) Nos.11916 of 2005, 11906, 17352, 18409, 22710, 23272, 23799 of 2006, 2926, 3244, 9833, 11105, 12347, 14846, 15805, 18588, 18637, 18893, 19186, 21033, 21735, 23900 & 28848 of 2007 ============================== Dated this the 16th day of March, 2009 JUDGMENT Ravindran,J. These writ petitions have been referred to us to decide whether the decision of the Division Bench of this Court in Ajayan v. State of Kerala [2006(3) KLT 854] has been correctly decided. The main issue raised in these writ petitions is whether Rule 11 of the Kerala Public Service Commission Rules of Procedure, hereinafter referred to as the “Rules” for short, and Condition No.9 of the General Conditions which forms part of every notification issued by the Kerala Public Service Commission, hereinafter referred to as the “Commission” for short, empower and authorize the Commission to prescribe cut off marks to shortlist the candidates to be called for interview/physical efficiency test. Writ Petition (C) Nos.11916 of 2005 and 23272 of 2006 2. These Writ Petitions relate to appointment to the post of Veterinary Surgeon Grade II in the Animal Husbandry Department. Writ Petition (C) No.11916 of 2005 is treated as the main case and the documents referred to are those produced and marked therein. By Ext.P1 notification published in the Kerala Gazette dated 26.8.2003, the Commission invited WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 2 :- applications for appointment by direct recruitment to the post of Veterinary Surgeon Grade-II in the Animal Husbandry Department. The number of vacancies notified was 81 and the last date fixed for receipt of applications was 22.10.2003. A written test was conducted on 25.8.2004 and thereafter, Ext.P6 shortlist of 294 candidates, consisting of 195 in the main list and 99 in the supplementary lists was published on 10.12.2004. After verification of documents, 6 candidates who were found ineligible to apply were excluded from the shortlist. In Ext.P6 shortlist it is stated that candidates who have obtained 50 marks and above have been included in the Main List and that cut off marks have been lowered to the extent necessary in respect of candidates included in the supplementary list. The shortlisted candidates were interviewed between 22.4.2005 and 28.4.2005 and a ranked list was published on 2.7.2005. The petitioners contend that though only 81 vacancies had been notified, the vacancies had increased due to retirement/creation of additional posts, that the Commission does not have the power or authority to prescribe cut off marks for preparing the shortlist and that the Commission has not ensured that candidates corresponding to 3 to 5 times the total number of notified/anticipated vacancies are included in the shortlist. The petitioners contend that by prescribing cut off marks, eligible candidates were excluded from the shortlist and that prescription of cut off marks is illegal. They rely on the decision of the Division Bench of this Court in Ajayan v. State of Kerala (supra) in support of their WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 3 :- contention that the Commission cannot prescribe cut off marks and thereby exclude eligible candidates from being considered for selection. 3. The Commission has filed a counter affidavit and an additional counter affidavit in W.P.(C) No.11916 of 2005 contending inter alia that from the ranked list published on 2.7.2005 candidates were advised against the notified vacancies and the vacancies that arose subsequently, that the main list of the ranked list was exhausted after advising 258 candidates, that a fresh notification was thereupon issued on 15.1.2007, that 566 candidates were admitted for the written test held on 19.12.2007 and that the petitioner has also applied for the post. The Commission has also contended that they have the power to fix cut off marks to shortlist candidates. In the counter affidavit filed in W.P(C) No.23272 of 2006, the Commission has stated that when Ext.P6 shortlist was finalized, 121 vacancies of Veterinary Surgeon Grade-II had been reported and were pending with them. The petitioner in W.P.(C) No.11916 of 2005 has filed a reply affidavit contending that in the year 2001, about 400 candidates were advised for appointment to the post of Veterinary Surgeon Grade-II, that as 258 candidates were advised from the ranked list published on 2.7.2005, inclusion of only 195 candidates in the main list of Ext.P6 short list is arbitrary and illegal and that in the main list of the shortlist at least 81x3 = 243 candidates ought to have been included. Writ Petition (Civil) Nos.11906 of 2006 and 2926 of 2007 WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 4 :- 4. These Writ Petitions relate to appointment to the post of L.D. Compiler/Investigator/Punch Card Operator in the Economics and Statistics Department. W.P.(C) No.2926 of 2007 is treated as the main case and the documents referred to are those produced and marked therein. By Ext.P1 notification published in the Kerala Gazette dated 15.6.2004, the Commission invited applications for appointment by direct recruitment to the post of L.D. Compiler/Investigator/Punch Card Operator in the Economics and Statistics Department in all the revenue districts. Except in Malappuram District, where the notified vacancy was 1, in the other Districts, the number of vacancies was not estimated. The last date fixed for receipt of applications was 28.7.2004. In Palakkad District, with which we are concerned, 7462 candidates applied for the post. A written test was conducted on 22.10.2005 and thereafter, Ext.P2 shortlist consisting of 20 candidates in the main list and 26 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 18.2.2006. Ext.P2 states that candidates who have obtained 68 marks and above have been included in the main list of the short list and that cut off marks have been lowered to the extent necessary in respect of candidates included in the supplementary lists. Ext.P3 ranked list was thereafter published on 28.3.2006 wherein, 19 candidates were included in the main list and 23 in the supplementary lists. In Ext.P3 also it is stated that candidates who have obtained 68% marks and above have been included in the main list and that cut off marks have been lowered to the extent necessary in WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 5 :- respect of candidates belonging to the communities eligible for reservation. After W.P.(C) No.2926 of 2007 was filed, the Commission published Ext.P9 notification in the Kerala Gazette Extra Ordinary dated 12.3.2007 inviting applications for appointment to 21 vacancies of L.D. Compiler/Investigator/Punch Card Operator in Palakkad District. 5. The petitioners contend that more than 50 vacancies of L.D. Compiler/Investigator/Punch Card Operator were available in Palakkad District, that 19 candidates from the main list and 9 candidates from the supplementary lists were advised on 9.5.2006 and that further advices could not be made since by the advices made on 9.5.2006, the main list of 19 candidates was exhausted. The petitioners rely on Ext.P4, Ext.P5, Ext.P7 and Ext.P8 letters to contend that at least 48 vacancies had been reported to the Commission before Ext.P2 shortlist was published, that the 21 vacancies notified in Ext.P9 notification dated 12.3.2007 are vacancies which were available when Ext.P2 shortlist and Ext.P3 ranked list were published and that by prescribing 68% marks as the cut off marks, the Commission has excluded a large number of candidates from being considered for selection to the post of L.D. Compiler/Investigator/ Punch Card Operator in Palakkad District. 6. The Commission has filed a counter affidavit in W.P.(C) No.11906 of 2006 contending inter alia that the number of vacancies in Palakkad District had not been estimated when Ext.P1 notification was issued, that while the selection was in progress, 8 vacancies were reported to the WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 6 :- Commission and therefore, a shortlist was prepared on that basis. It is further contended that the petitioner cannot seek enlargement of the ranked list so as to include more candidates, taking note of the vacancies presently in existence. The Commission also contends that the process of selection is a continuing process and the fact that the ranked list is exhausted before all the vacancies that arose in the meanwhile could be filled up does not matter for the reason that the Commission will immediately take steps to notify the vacancies afresh so that candidates who become qualified subsequently will also be able to compete. A counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of the Deputy Director of Economics and Statistics, Palakkad, wherein it is stated that as on the date of preparation of Ext.P2 shortlist, the actual vacancies were 46 and that the said vacancies had been reported to the Commission by 20.1.2006. It is also stated that though all the 25 candidates advised by the Commission were appointed, only 16 candidates joined duty and that 9 non joining duty vacancies were reported to the Commission by letter dated 19.8.2006. It is further stated that the District Officer of the Commission has in his letter dated 28.8.2006 informed the Deputy Director of Economics and Statistics, that the advice memos issued to the 9 candidates who did not join duty have been cancelled. Writ Petition (Civil) Nos. 17352 of 2006, 18409 of 2006, 22710 of 2006 and 23799 of 2006. 7. These Writ Petitions relate to appointment to the post of Lecturer WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 7 :- in Law in the Collegiate Education Department. W.P.(C) No.18409 of 2006 is treated as the main case and the documents referred to are those produced and marked therein. By Ext.P1 notification published in the Kerala Gazette dated 29.5.2005, the Commission invited applications for appointment by direct recruitment to the post of Lecturer in Law. The number of vacancies notified was 3. The last date fixed for receipt of applications was 11.5.2005. Pursuant to Ext.P1, a written test was conducted on 7.4.2006 and thereafter, Ext.P4 shortlist consisting of 16 candidates in the main list and 18 in the supplementary lists was published on 19.6.2006. Ext.P4 shortlist states that candidates who have obtained 60 marks and above have been included in the main list of the short list and that cut off marks have been lowered to the extent necessary in respect of candidates included in the supplementary lists. After interviewing the shortlisted candidates, Ext.P11 ranked list was published on 23.11.2006 wherein, 15 candidates are included in the main list and 17 in the supplementary lists. The petitioners contend that though only 3 vacancies had been notified, 16 vacancies were in existence when Ext.P4 shortlist was published, that 7 vacancies were anticipated to arise in the next two years viz. 2005 and 2006 and that the action of the Commission in restricting the number of candidates included in the main list of the shortlist to 16, by resorting to prescription of cut off marks, is arbitrary and illegal. 8. A statement dated 5.8.2006 has been filed on behalf of the State WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 8 :- of Kerala wherein it is stated that as per letter No.11998/C1/04/H.Edn dated 9.12.2004, the Government had reported 3 anticipated vacancies of Lecturer in Law in Government Law Colleges to the Commission, that subsequently 5 more vacancies arose during the years 2005-2006, and that the actual number of vacancies of Lecturer in Law in Government Law Colleges is 8. The Commission has filed a counter affidavit, relying on Ext.R1(a), Circular No.30 of 2003 dated 1.12.2003 and contending inter alia that it is open to the Commission to decide on the number of candidates to be included in the shortlist depending on the number of vacancies reported to them, the number of candidates advised from the previous list, the nature of the post and the chances of occurrence of vacancies in future. It is contended that 60 marks was not fixed as the cut off mark, that when the Commission prepared Ext.P4 shortlist of candidates it decided to restrict the number of candidates to be called for interview and that all the candidates who had secured the marks secured by the last of such candidates were also included in the shortlist. Relying on Ext.R1(a) circular, the Commission contends that it had only decided to restrict the number of candidates to be short listed for the purpose of interview and that the decision to include in the shortlist only those candidates who have secured 60 marks and above in the written test is not a decision fixing a cut off mark as such, but the effect of limiting the number of candidates to be shortlisted. The Commission also contends that they are not always bound to include candidates WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 9 :- corresponding to 3 to 5 times the number of existing/anticipated vacancies in the shortlist and that the writ petitions are bad for non- joinder of necessary parties. Writ Petition (Civil) Nos. 3244 of 2007, 9833 of 2007, 11105 of 2007, 12347 of 2007, 14846 of 2007, 15805 of 2007, 18588 of 2007, 18637 of 2007, 18893 of 2007, 19186 of 2007, 21033 of 2007, 21735 of 2007, 23900 of 2007 and 28848 of 2007. 9. These Writ Petitions relate to appointment to the post of Police Constable in the Armed Police Battalions in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kannur districts. W.P (C) Nos.18637 and 23900 of 2007 relate to Thiruvananthapuram District; W.P.(C) Nos.3244, 11105, 21033 and 28848 of 2007 relate to Kollam District; W.P.(C) Nos.15805 and 21735 of 2007 relate to Kottayam District; W.P.(C) No.18588 of 2007 relates to Ernakulam District; W.P.(C) Nos.9833 and 14846 of 2007 relate to Malappuram District and W.P.(C) Nos.12347, 18893 and 19186 of 2007 relate to Kannur District. By a notification published in the Kerala Gazette dated 28.6.2005, the Commission invited applications from eligible persons for appointment by direct recruitment to the post of Police Constable in the Armed Police Battalions in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Kannur districts. The vacancies had not been estimated in the notification. A written test was held by the Commission on 4.3.2006 in respect of all the Districts and shortlists of candidates to be called for the physical efficiency test were thereafter published on WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 10 :- 18.12.2006 for Thiruvananthapuram District, on 8.1.2007 for Kollam District, on 5.12.2006 for Kottayam District, on 30.12.2006 for Ernakulam District, on 6.1.2007 for Thrissur District, on 28.12.2006 for Malappuram District and on 10.1.2007 for Kannur District. The ranked lists were thereafter published on 9.5.2007 in Thiruvananthapuram District, on 24.3.2007 in Kollam District, on 2.4.2007 in Kottayam District, on 16.4.2007 in Ernakulam District, on 4.5.2007 in Thrissur District and on 18.4.2007 in Malappuram and Kannur Districts. The petitioners state that the Commission had fixed cut off marks for various Districts at different levels viz., 57 marks for Thiruvananthapuram, 63 marks for Kollam, 49 marks for Kottayam, 54 marks for Ernakulam, 48 marks for Thrissur, 59 marks for Malappuram and 46 marks for Kannur and that there is no rationale in fixing different cut off marks for the Armed Police Battalions in various Districts. The petitioners contend that as the Commission did not stipulate the minimum marks to be secured in the written test in the notification inviting applications, it did not have the power to exclude candidates based on cut off marks. It is also contended that adequate number of candidates corresponding to 3 to 5 times the number of vacancies existing and anticipated had to be included in the shortlists and that having not been done, the prescription of cut off marks and exclusion of candidates from the shortlist are bad in law. 10. The Commission has along with the affidavit dated 12.3.2008 filed WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 11 :- in W.P.(C) No.18893 of 2007 produced Ext.R1(c), a tabular statement setting out the total number of applications received, the number of candidates short listed, the number of vacancies available at the time when the Commission decided to shortlist candidates and also on the date when the shortlist was prepared, the number of candidates included in the short lists and the ranked lists and the number of candidates advised by the Commission for appointment to the post of Police Constable in the Armed Police Battalions in various Districts. It is also stated that a fresh notification was issued on 15.9.2007 inviting applications for appointment by direct recruitment to the post of Police Constables in the Armed Police Battalions in various Districts. Pursuant to the notification issued by the Commission on 28.6.2005, 28752 candidates applied in Thiruvananthapuram District, 30766 candidates in Kollam District, 20261 candidates in Kottayam District, 20499 candidates in Ernakulam District, 33774 candidates in Thrissur District, 34184 candidates in Malappuram District and 30725 candidates in Kannur District. The statement filed by the Commission discloses that in Thiruvananthapuram District 28601 candidates, in Kollam District 28332 candidates, in Kottayam District 18512 candidates, in Ernakulam District 18936 candidates, in Thrissur District 31262 candidates, in Malappuram District 30637 candidates and in Kannur District 28300 candidates were called for the written test held on 4.3.2006. The Commission thereafter published separate shortlists for the various Districts. The break up of WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 12 :- candidates included in the main list and in the supplementary lists of the shortlists published by the Commission is as follows: Thiruvananthapuram District Total number of candidates : 2363 Main list : 677 Supplementary lists : 1686 Kollam District Total number of candidates : 1053 Main list : 301 Supplementary lists : 752 Kottayam District Total number of candidates : 1071 Main list : 302 Supplementary lists : 769 Ernakulam District Total number of candidates : 998 Main list : 285 Supplementary lists : 713 Thrissur District Total number of candidates : 3852 Main list : 1109 Supplementary lists : 2743 Malappuram District : Total number of candidates : 869 Main list : 243 Supplementary lists : 626 WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 13 :- Kannur District Total number of candidates : 3430 Main list : 979 Supplementary lists : 2451 11. All the shortlisted candidates were called for the physical efficiency test. In Thiruvananthapuram District, out of 2363 shortlisted candidates only 1668 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test and out of them 1099 candidates passed the test. In Kollam District, out of 1053 shortlisted candidates, only 664 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test and out of them 422 candidates passed the test. In Kottayam District, out of 1071 shortlisted candidates only 853 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test and out of them 592 candidates passed the test. In Ernakulam District, out of 998 shortlisted candidates only 752 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test and out of them 570 candidates passed the test. In Thrissur District, out of 3852 shortlisted candidates, only 3073 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test and out of them 1894 candidates passed the test. In Malappuram District, out of 869 shortlisted candidates, only 586 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test and out of them 346 candidates passed the test. In Kannur District, out of 3430 shortlisted candidates only 2486 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test and 1457 candidates passed the test. The statement filed by the Commission discloses that when they decided to shortlist candidates, the total number of vacancies reported to the Commission was 259 in WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 14 :- Thiruvananthapuram District, 158 in Kollam District, 136 in Kottayam District, 136 in Ernakulam District, 513 in Thrissur District, 99 in Malappuram District and 452 in Kannur District. After the physical efficiency test was held, a ranked list consisting of 315 candidates in the main list and 784 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 9.5.2007 in respect of Thiruvananthapuram District. In respect of Kollam District, a ranked list consisting of 108 candidates in the main list and 314 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 24.3.2007. In respect of Kottayam District, a ranked list consisting of 137 candidates in the main list and 421 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 2.4.2007. In respect of Ernakulam District, a ranked list consisting of 146 candidates in the main list and 418 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 16.4.2007. In respect of Thrissur District, a ranked list consisting of 538 candidates in the main list and 1356 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 4.5.2007. In respect of Malappuram District, a ranked list consisting of 86 candidates in the main list and 249 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 18.4.2007. In respect of Kannur District, a ranked list consisting of 445 candidates in the main list and 998 candidates in the supplementary lists was published on 18.4.2007. When the ranked lists were published, the vacancy position was 336 in Thiruvananthapuram District, 206 in Kollam District, 138 in Kottayam District, 187 in Ernakulam District, 513 in Thrissur District, 114 in WP(C) 11916/05, etc. -: 15 :- Malappuram District and 455 in Kannur District. The statement also discloses that the ranked list stood exhausted in Thiruvananthapuram District on 25.1.2008, in Kollam District on 9.5.2007, in Kottayam District on 12.7.2007,