IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI THURSDAY, THE 14TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 25TH MAGHA 1929 WP(C).No. 802 of 2008(U) ------------------------ PETITIONER: ------------ SINDHU PAUL.K, ALOOR KOKKEN HOUSE, ARANATTUKARA, KIZHAKKEPURAM P.O., THRISSUR. BY ADV. SRI.P.RAMAKRISHNAN SMT.PREETHI KESAVAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THRISSUR. BY ADV. SRI.ALEXANDER THOMAS,SC,KPSC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14/02/2008, ALONG WITH THE CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V.GIRI,J --------------------------------- W.P.C.NOs.802,2298,2445,243,2664, 2879,2926,3532, 3593 OF 2008 ------------------------------------ Dated this the 4th day of January, 2008 ORDER A common issue arises in all these cases is whether the course in Computer Word Processing conducted by the institutions which are enumerated and listed by the Public Service Commission in their circular/notification dated 30/07/2007, should be a full time course for a period of not less than three months or whether the course is one in which instructions in computer word processing is imparted for a few hours every day. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that by its very nature, instructions in computer word processing would be imparted only for few hours every day, but the course duration would not be less than three months. It is submitted that the issue is one of proficiency in handling a computer. It is also submitted that they did not come across any institute or institution which imparts instructions in computer word processing for the whole day as part of a course which has duration of not less than three months. 2. Sri.Alexander Thomas, learned standing counsel for the WPC.No.802/08 & connected cases 2 Public Service Commission submits that the Commission had taken a decision as early as on 11/09/2007 declaring that the courses which are offered on hourly basis will not be treated as sufficient for the purpose of equivalent qualification and therefore the Commission had only uniformly applied its decision to all the cases. The commission possibly cannot be expected to undertake a detailed appraisal of the course content of each one of the courses undertaken by the petitioners in these cases. 3. In my view notwithstanding the decision taken by the PSC as is reflected in communication dated 11/09/200, one of the aspects which may have to be considered is whether the courses offered by these institutions which are enumerated in the circular of the PSC issued on 30//07/2007, are by their very nature, structured in such a way that instructions are imparted in computer word processing only for a few hours every day. It is open to the petitioners to place materials indicating the course content. Petitioner may also specifically state whether the same institution/institute offers a course in computer word processing for a duration not less than three months, but in which instructions are imparted for the entire working day. WPC.No.802/08 & connected cases 3 4. Sri.Alexander Thomas undertakes to file an affidavit or hand over a copy of the affidavit filed in one of these cases along with an adoption memo to the counsel appearing in these cases by 07/02/2009. Additional affidavit of the parties shall also be placed on record by 08/02/2008. Post on 11/02/2008. Hand over a copy to the counsel on both sides in all these cases (V.GIRI, JUDGE) sv.