IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR FRIDAY, THE 2ND JANUARY 2009 / 12TH POUSHA 1930 WP(C).No. 36386 of 2008(F) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- P.PADMASAGAR, U.D.CLERK, TALUK OFFICE, KARUNAGAPPALLY. BY ADV. SRI.N.VIMALAN RESPONDENT(S): --------------- THE COMMISSIONER, LAND REVENUE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY G.P. SMT. ANU SIVARAMAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 02/01/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: T.R. Ramachandran Nair, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C) No. 36386 of 2008-F - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 2nd day of January, 2009. JUDGMENT Aggrieved by the delay in completion of the disciplinary enquiry ordered as per Ext.P6, the petitioner has filed this writ petition. He is working as U.D. Clerk in the service of the Land Revenue Department. His seniority as per Ext.P1 seniority list is 8438. He was due for promotion as HC/R1/Village Officer. According to him, several of his juniors have been promoted. The proceedings Ext.P6 shows that the Revenue Divisional Officer Shri P. Suresh Babu has been appointed as Enquiry Officer to conduct disciplinary enquiry against the petitioner and another officer Smt. Remabhai. This is in accordance with the Kerala Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1960. Ext.P6 shows that the enquiry officer was directed to complete the enquiry and furnish report within a period of one month. It is averred in the writ petition that so far nothing has been done by the Enquiry Officer to commence the enquiry. The petitioner has approached the respondent Land Revenue Commissioner by way of Exts.P7 and P8 representations. 2. The anxiety of the petitioner is understandable, since several of his WPC 36386/21008 2 juniors have already been promoted and in his case no action is being taken obviously in view of the departmental enquiry. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the Enquiry Officer is to be directed to expedite the enquiry within a specified time. Therefore, there will be a direction to the respondent herein to take steps to complete the enquiry and finalise the disciplinary proceedings within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. In the light of the fact that in Ext.P6 itself only one month's time is fixed to complete the enquiry, the respondent should see that all the steps against the petitioner including finalisation of the disciplinary enquiry should be completed within the time limited of three months. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Communicate a copy of this judgment to the respondent for compliance. (T.R. Ramachandran Nair, Judge.) kav/