IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN MONDAY, THE 13TH OCTOBER 2008 / 21ST ASWINA 1930 WP(C).No. 27912 of 2008(W) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. JUSTIN PAUL, S/O.K.J.PAUL, AGED 49 YEARS, VILLAGE OFFICER, ICHALANGAD, KASARAGOD TALUK. RESIDING AT KURISINGAL HOUSE, KANHIRAMCHIRA, ALAPUZHA 688 007. 2. K.N.THULASEEDHARAN, S/O.K.P.NARAYANA PILLAI, VILLAGE OFFICER, ERAMAM, THALIPARAMBA TALUK, KANNUR. RESIDING KALARIKKAL HOUSE, VELLATHOOVAL P.O., IDUKKI DISTRICT. 3. C.V.VIJAYAN, S/O.VELAYUDHAN, 51 YEARS, VILLAGE OFFICER, KOIPADY, KASARAGOD TALUK. RESIDING AT CHERUKUZHI HOUSE, ADIMALI P.O. 4. A.T.SREEDEVI, W/O.E.SASIKUMAR, AGED 49 YEARS, VILLAGE OFFICER, KERALA ESTATE, NILAMBUR TALUK, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. RESIDING AT LOCK HART ESTATE, DEVIKULAM P.O, IDUKKI DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.MILLU DANDAPANI RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE LAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE DIRECTOR, VIGILANCE AND ANTI CORRUPTION BUREAU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT.ANU SIVARAMAN. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13/10/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J. ------------------------------- W.P.(C) No.27912 of 2008 ------------------------------- Dated this the 13th October, 2008. J U D G M E N T The petitioners are working as Village Officers in the Land Revenue Department. They are aggrieved by the delay in promoting them to the post of Deputy Tahsildar. The petitioners submit that though they have requested the Land Revenue Commissioner in Exts.P10 series representations that their claims for promotion to the post of Deputy Tahsildar may be considered having regard to their seniority, orders have not been passed thereon. 2. When the writ petition came up for admission today, Sri.Millu Dandapani, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the writ petition may be disposed of with a direction to the Land Revenue Commissioner, the second respondent in this writ petition, to consider the grievance voiced by the petitioners in Ext.P10 series representations and take a W.P.(C) No.27912 of 2008 2 decision thereon, in accordance with law, within a time limit to be fixed by this Court. 3. The question whether going by their seniority in the category of Village Officers, the petitioners are eligible to be promoted to the post of Deputy Tahsildar is primarily a matter to be decided by the Land Revenue Commissioner. As the petitioners have already moved that authority seeking promotion as Deputy Tahsildar, it is only just and proper that the request made by them is considered and disposed of expeditiously. In these circumstances, I dispose of the Writ Petition with a direction to the second respondent, the Land Revenue Commissioner, to consider Ext.P10 series representations submitted by the petitioners and pass orders thereon, within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. P.N.RAVINDRAN, JUDGE nj.