IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI FRIDAY, THE 11TH JULY 2008 / 20TH ASHADHA 1930 WP(C).No. 18487 of 2008(A) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ 1. M.ALEXANDER, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOLLAM. 2. THOMAS MATHEW, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOTTAYAM. 3. K.T.MURALI, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 4. P.BABU, ASSISTANT ENGINEER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, MALAPPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.P.PARAMESWARAN NAIR,ASST.SOLICITOR RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT JALA VIGNANA BHAVAN, AMBALAMUKKU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. WATER RESOURCES (GW) DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SMT.M.R.SREELATHA THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 11/07/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V.GIRI, J ------------------- W.P.(C).18487/2008 -------------------- Dated this the 11th day of July, 2008 JUDGMENT Petitioners are working as Assistant Engineers in the Water Resources Department. They apprehend a reversion to the post of Master Driller. Apparently the proposal for reverting the petitioners is on the basis of an inspection conducted by the Finance (Inspection NTA) Department in January, 2008 and Ext.P1 order was passed in consequence thereto. The main allegation in relation to the promotion of the petitioners was that order of promotion was not passed by the competent authority and the ratio between the Degree/Diploma and I.T.I candidates was not maintained. According to the petitioners, there were no qualified hands in the Department. Nor was there any rank list in force and it is therefore, that they were promoted. It is further contended that they are fully qualified for the post of Assistant Engineer. W.P.(C).18487/2008 2 2. I do not think that any interference by this Court is necessary at this stage. As is evidenced by Ext.P3, there is a direction by the Government to the Director to take urgent action on the basis of the recommendations (2) and (3) in the inspection report of Finance Department report to the Government. 3. In the circumstances, all that is required is to clarify that if the petitioners are proposed to be reverted, they shall be given notice in that regard and heard by the Government, before orders are passed. Subject to the above, writ petition is disposed of. V.GIRI, Judge mrcs