IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI MONDAY, THE 7TH JULY 2008 / 16TH ASHADHA 1930 WP(C).No. 17593 of 2008(T) -------------------------- PETITIONER: PETITIONER ---------------------- PRAVEEN.K.K, JUNIOR HEALTH INSPECTOR GRADE-II, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE, BALUSSERY, BALUSSERY.P.O, KOZHIKODE-12. BY ADV. SRI.P.M.BENZIR SRI.G.G.MANOJ SRI.JAICE JACOB RESPONDENTS: RESPONDENTS ------------------------ 1. STATE OF KERALA, REP BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, TRIVANDRUM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH SERVICES, TRIVANDRUM - 35. 3. THE DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, KASARAGOD, KANHANGAD, BELLA.P.O, KASARAGOD-31. 4. THE DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, KOZHIKODE, CIVIL STATION.P.O, KOZHIKODE-20. BY GP SMT.M.R.SREELATHA THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 07/07/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V.GIRI, J ------------------- W.P.(C).17593/2008 -------------------- Dated this the 7th day of July, 2008 JUDGMENT Petitioner is working as Junior Health Inspector Grade-II in the Community Health Centre, Balussery. He is aggrieved by the denial of promotion and periodical increments due to him. Said situation has come about due to unauthorized absence from duty. Apparently, petitioner had sought for leave without allowance but was not sanctioned the same. He, nevertheless could not attend duty. Therefore, the said period has been treated as unauthorized absence. Ext.P3 memo of charges were issued. Petitioner has submitted his reply, but the proceedings have not been finalized so far. In the circumstances, he has been denied promotion and periodical increments, he contends. Hence the writ petition. 2. Learned Government Pleader, on instructions, submits that the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the petitioner as per Ext.P3, would be finalized at the W.P.(C).17593/2008 2 earliest. What remains is the regularization of period of absence. This will be contemporaneous to the finalization of proceedings under Ext.P3. Submission is recorded. 3. In the result, writ petition is disposed of directing the second respondent to ensure that the proceedings initiated against the petitioner under Ext.P3 is finalized at the earliest, at any rate, within four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. Subject to the finalization of the same, orders may be passed regularizing the period of absence. A decision on the petitioner's claim for promotion and sanction of periodical increments may also be taken, subject to the finalization of the disciplinary proceedings as such. V.GIRI, Judge mrcs