IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN WEDNESDAY, THE 8TH SEPTEMBER 2010 / 17TH BHADRA 1932 WP(C).No. 27484 of 2010(I) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. CHATHOLI MARAKKAR, S/O.MOYIN, CHATHOLI HOUSE, AREECHOLA, P.O.THACHINGANADAM, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 2. POOVATHI ABDUL HAMEED, S/O.MOIDEEN, POOVATHI HOUSE, AREECHOLA, P.O.THACHINGANADAM, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.U.K.DEVIDAS RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE ELECTION REGISTRATION OFFICER, KEEZHATTUR GRAMA PANCHAYATH, P.O.POONTHAVANAM- 679 325, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 2. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS, MALAPPURAM. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, MALAPPURAM. 4. THE STATE ELECTION COMMISSIONER, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. THE KEEZHATTUR GRAMA PANCHAYATH, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, P.O.POONTHAVANAM- 679 325, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 6. THE VILLAGE OFFICER, KIZHATTOOR VILLAGE, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.MURALI PURUSHOTHAMAN, SC,K.S.E.COMM FOR R4 BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT.K.R.DEEPA THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08/09/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. ------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.27484 of 2010 ------------------------------- Dated this the 8th day of September, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are residents of Ward No.19 (formerly Ward No.18) of Keezhattur Grama Panchayat. The grievance voiced in this writ petition is that their names are however shown in the voters list relating to Ward No.1. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioners and other similarly placed filed separate applications before the Electoral Registration Officer of Keezhattur Grama Panchayat for inclusion of their names in the voters list relating to Ward No.18, after deleting their names from Ward No.1. The said applications were rejected on the ground that pursuant to the order passed by the State Delimitation Commission, the residences where the petitioners and other objectors are residing are situated within the boundaries of Ward No.1. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioners have filed appeals before the Deputy Director of Panchayats, Malappuram. In this writ petition, the petitioners mainly seek a direction to the Deputy Director of Panchayats to consider the appeals and pass appropriate orders thereon within a time limit to be fixed by this Court. 2. The learned standing counsel appearing for the State Election Commission has filed a statement dated 6.9.2010, wherein W.P.(C) No.27484 of 2010 2 the fact that the petitioners and other aggrieved voters have filed appeals before the Deputy Director of Panchayats is conceded. It is also stated that the said appeals are pending. 3. In such circumstances, I dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the Deputy Director of Panchayats to consider the said appeals and take an appropriate decision in the matter, in the manner prescribed in Rule 22 of the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Registration of Electors) Rules, 1994 expeditiously and in any event, within two weeks from the date on which petitioners produce a certified copy of this judgment before him. The Deputy Director of Panchayats shall, after orders are passed on the appeals, communicate copies thereof to all the appellants. P.N.RAVINDRAN, Judge. nj.