IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 3RD DECEMBER 2008 / 12TH AGRAHAYANA 1930 WP(C).No. 34375 of 2008(P) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- R.SUDHARMAN, BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, PRESENTLY POSTS AS CAMPAIGN OFFICER, IN RURAL INFORMAION BUREAU AT STATE MUNICIPAL HOUSE VAZHUTHACAUD, SASTHAMANGALAM P.O., TVM. BY ADV. SRI.M.V.THAMBAN RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. LOCAL SELF GOVT. DEP. GOVT SECRETARIAT, TVM. 2. THE COMMISSIONER FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT LMS COMPOUNDS, VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT.ANU SIVARAMAN. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03/12/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. ------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.34375 of 2008 ------------------------------- Dated this the 3rd December, 2008. J U D G M E N T Heard Sri.M.V.Thamban, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Smt.Anu Sivaraman, the learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents. 2. The petitioner is an Officer in the category of Block Development Officer presently working as Campaign Officer in the Rural Information Bureau at Thiruvananthapuram under the Local Self Government Department. The next higher post to which the petitioner can aspire for promotion is that of Assistant Development Commissioner. The petitioner submits that claiming promotion to the said category, he has submitted Ext.P2 representation before the Principal Secretary to Government, Local Self Government Department, stating that the delay in promoting him has occurred because of the failure of the authorities to prescribe a ratio for Block Development Officers for promotion to the category of Assistant Development W.P.(C) No.34375/2008 2 Commissioner. In this writ petition, the petitioner inter alia prays for a direction to the Principal Secretary to Government, Local Self Government Department, to consider Ext.P2 representation and pass orders thereon, within a time limit to be fixed by this Court. 3. The learned Government Pleader, on instructions, submits that Ext.P2 representation has been received by Secretary to Government. I have considered the submissions made at the Bar by the learned counsel appearing on either side. Whether the request made by the petitioner in Ext.P2 is to be granted or not is primarily a matter for the Government to decide, at least in the first instance. Since, the Principal Secretary to Government has admittedly received Ext.P2 representation, it is for that authority to consider the request made by the petitioner in Ext.P2 and take a decision thereon. The case set out by the petitioner in Ext.P2 and in this writ petition discloses that he has a genuine grievance which requires to be considered by the Government. W.P.(C) No.34375/2008 3 In these circumstances, I dispose of the Writ Petition with a direction to the Secretary to Government, Local Self Government Department, to consider Ext.P2 and take a decision thereon, after affording the petitioner an opportunity of being heard. Final orders in this matter shall be passed within four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. It will be open to the Secretary to Government to hear representatives of service organizations also before taking a final decision in the matter. P.N.RAVINDRAN, JUDGE nj.