IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.SURENDRA MOHAN WEDNESDAY, THE 6TH JANUARY 2010 / 16TH POUSHA 1931 WP(C).No. 36399 of 2009(T) -------------------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------------- JULIET, W/O.C.B.SEBASTIAN, AGED 55, CHITTAKKAL HOUSE, KURAVALANGADU, KOTTAYAM. BY ADV. MR.C.S.MANILAL. RESPONDENTS: ------------------------ 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE DIRECTORATE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. R1 & R2 BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT. ANU SIVARAMAN. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 06/01/2010,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: prv. K.SURENDRA MOHAN, J ........................................... WP(C).NO.36399 OF 2009 ............................................ DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2010 JUDGMENT The petitioner is working as the Child Welfare Project Officer, Vaikom. Disciplinary action was initiated against her and she was under suspension from the year, 2000. The disciplinary proceedings ended in Ext.P1 proceedings, by which, she was punished. Meanwhile, since disciplinary proceedings were pending, the promotion that was due to her was not given, though many of her juniors were promoted above her. The complaint of the petitioner is that disciplinary proceedings have dragged on for an abnormally long period of time causing serious prejudice to her career prospects. At present, she is due to retire on 31.3.2010. The petitioner has produced Ext.P3, a copy of the note file that she has received under the Right to Information Act from the Director of Social Welfare. The notings in Ext.P3 show that her promotion has been recommended and that the same is under consideration of the Government. The notings also show that petitioner is eligible for promotion. At present, the matter is pending decision of Wpc 36399/09 2 the Government. 2. In the above circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of directing the first respondent to take a decision on the question of the petitioner's promotion as District Social Welfare Officer, as expeditiously as possible, and at any rate, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, which the petitioner is permitted to produce before the authority for compliance. K.SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE lgk