IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN MONDAY, THE 22ND MARCH 2010 / 1ST CHAITHRA 1932 WP(C).No. 6155 of 2010(T) ------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ---------------------- 1. MUHAMMAD SHA K.P., FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICER GRADE -I, OFFICE OF THE FISHERIES JOINT DIRECTOR, CALICUT. 2. K.PRABHAKARAN, FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT OFFIER GRADE I, THANUR, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 3. V.KARTHIKEYAN, FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT OFFICER GRADE - I, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES, CALICUT. BY ADVS. MR.N.NANDAKUMARA MENON, SENIOR ADVOCATE MR.P.K.MANOJKUMAR SMT.SUSHYA RAJAN RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------ 1. THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, FISHERIES AND PORTS DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR.ANTONY MUKKATH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22/03/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN, J ---------------------- W.P.(C.) No.6155 of 2010 --------------------------------- Dated this the 22nd day of March 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioners raise a complaint regarding seniority. According to them, their juniors have been given benefit of seniority above the petitioners. The petitioners have filed Exts.P4, P5 and P6 complaint in this regard before the 1st respondent. The petitioners seek a direction to the 1st respondent to consider and pass orders on Exts.P4, P5 and P6 expeditiously. 2. The learned Government Pleader submits that the claim of the petitioners is hit by delay and laches and also by the 'sit back' theory. I am of opinion that these are all matters which the 1st respondent should consider when Exts.P4, P5 and P6 are disposed of. 3. Accordingly, this writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the 1st respondent to consider and pass orders on W.P.(C) No.6155 of 2010 -2- Exts.P4, P5 and P6 after affording an opportunity of being heard to the petitioners as well as all others who may be affected by such a decision as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE Jvt