IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 22ND JULY 2009 / 31ST ASHADHA 1931 WP(C).No. 20524 of 2009(I) ------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------------- R. SURENDRA LAL, AGED 55 YEARS, S/O.P.K. RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, KOTTAYAM MUNICIPALITY. BY ADV. MR.V.A.MUHAMMED RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------ 1. THE STATE OF KERALA, REP.BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT,TRIVANDRUM. 2. THE SECRETARY, KOTTAYAM MUNICIPALITY,KOTTAYAM. R1 BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.ANU SIVARAMAN. R2 BY ADV. MR.SIBY MATHEW. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 22/07/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: rs. P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. ----------------------------- W.P(C) No. 20524 of 2009 -I ------------------------------ Dated this the 22nd day of July, 2009. J U D G M E N T Heard Sri.V.A.Muhammed, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Smt.Anu Sivaraman, the learned Senior Government Pleader appearing for the respondents. The petitioner who is presently working as Town Planning Officer in the Kottayam Municipality has filed this writ petition challenging Ext.P1 order dated 7.7.2009 passed by the State Government transferring and posting him as Assistant Engineer in Thalassery Municipality. The petitioner challenges Ext.P1 on the ground that as he will retire from service on 31.3.2010 on attaining the age of superannuation, his transfer is in violation of the guidelines governing transfer and posting of Government employees. Ext.P1 discloses that the petitioner was transferred pursuant to the recommendation by the Director of Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau which is enquiring into acts of misconduct alleged to have committed by the petitioner in his capacity as the Town Planning Officer. In my opinion the order of transfer is one intended to maintain discipline and to ensure efficiency in administration. A learned single judge of this Court has in Ramachandran Nair V. Director of Training (ILR 1992(3) Ker 149) held that transfer made to ensure W.P(C) No. 20524 of 2009 -I 2 efficiency in administration and maintenance of discipline cannot be interfered with. The petitioner, who is facing a vigilance enquiry cannot in my opinion, challenge the order transferring him in the exigencies of service and in public interest on the ground that the guidelines have not been adhered to. The writ petition fails and is accordingly dismissed. No costs. P.N.RAVINDRAN JUDGE ab