IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.SURENDRA MOHAN TUESDAY, THE 9TH FEBRUARY 2010 / 20TH MAGHA 1931 WP(C).No. 2121 of 2010(M) ----------------------------------- PETITIONERS: -------------------- 1. K.A.THANKAN, AGED 46 YEARS, S/O.AYYAPPAN, RESIDING AT KANJIRATHINKAL HOUSE, K.CHAPPATHU, AALADY.P.O, AYYAPPANCOIL, IDUKKI DISTRICT. 2. K.D.GOPI, AGED 44 YEARS, S/O.DIVAKARAN, RESIDING AT KALARIPARAMBIL HOUSE, K.CHAPPATHU.P.O, HAVENVALLEY, IDUKKI DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.JOICE GEORGE RESPONDENTS: ---------------------- 1. THE DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, THODUPUZHA.P.O, IDUKKI DISTRICT. 2. THE ASSISTANT LABOUR OFFICER, NEDUMKANDAM, OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT LABOUR OFFICER, NEDUMKANDAM.P.O, IDUKKI DISTRICT. ADDL.3. KERALA HEAD LOAD WORKERS WELFARE BOARD, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, OFFICE OF THE KERALA HEAD LOAD WORKERS WELFARE BOARD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. (ADDL.3RD RESPONDENT IS IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 9.2.2010 IN IA NO.1420 OF 2010) R1 & R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.K.C.SANTHOSH KUMAR R3 BY STANDING COUNSEL SRI.KOSHY GEORGE THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/02/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K. SURENDRA MOHAN, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W. P.(C) No. 2121 OF 2010 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 9th day of February, 2010 JUDGMENT The petitioners are head load workers who are registered under Rule 26 A of the Kerala Head Load Workers Rules, 1981. The petitioners are unattached workmen doing the loading and unloading work in the area assigned to them, within the limits of Ayyappancoil Grama Panchayat in Idukki District. The complaint of the petitioners is that they were not given notice or heard before granting registration to new workers in the area. As per the dictum laid down by this Court in Jnana Prakasam v. Natarajan (2002(1) KLT 39), existing workmen like the petitioners are really aggrieved persons entitled to be heard while granting registration to new workers. Voicing their grievances, the petitioners have submitted Ext.P3 representation before the 2nd respondent. However, according to them, no orders have been passed thereon till date. 2. In view of the above, I feel that appropriate directions can be issued to the 2nd respondent to afford an opportunity of WP(C) No. 2121 of 2010 -:2:- being heard to the petitioners also before registering other workers in the area. 3. This Writ Petition is therefore disposed of directing the 2nd respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P3 representation submitted by the petitioners, in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible, after affording an opportunity of being heard to the petitioners also before registration as head load workers is given to others. K. SURENDRA MOHAN, JUDGE ttb