IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.T.SANKARAN MONDAY, THE 12TH JANUARY 2009 / 22ND POUSHA 1930 WP(C).No. 1084 of 2009(D) PETITIONER: --------------- SARASWATHI AMMA K.,HEADMISRESS PADANILAM H.S.S., NOORANAD, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.M.V.THAMBAN SRI.R.REJI SRI.B.BIPIN RESPONDENTS: --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY IT'S SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, ALAPPUZHA. 3. THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, MAVELIKKARA. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.A.J.VARGHESE THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 12/01/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K.T.SANKARAN, J. ------------------------------------------------------ W.P.(C) NO. 1084 OF 2009 D ------------------------------------------------------ Dated this the 12th January, 2009 JUDGMENT The petitioner is working as Headmistress of Padanilam Higher Secondary School, Nooranad, Alappuzha District. She is due to retire from service on 31.3.2009. It is stated that the original service book of the petitioner was lost in the office of the District Educational Officer. That the service book was not seen in the office of the District Educational Officer is clear from Ext.P1 letter dated 22.8.2008, sent by the District Educational Officer to the petitioner. The petitioner was directed to find out whether the service book was in the School. As per Ext.P2 dated 15.9.2008, the petitioner replied to the District Educational Officer that after June 2005, the service book was not taken back from the office of the District Educational Officer. The petitioner also prayed for taking urgent action since she is due to retire from service on 31.3.2009. She stated in Exhibit P2 that delay was occasioned in the matter of sending the proposals for pension. Ext.P3 letter dated 26.9.2008 was issued by the District Educational Officer to the petitioner directing her to submit a representation for obtaining duplicate service book. It is stated that W.P.(C) NO.1084 OF 2009 :: 2 :: the representation has to be forwarded to the Government for necessary further steps. Accordingly, the petitioner submitted Ext.P4 representation dated 6.10.2008 to the first respondent praying to accord sanction to open a duplicate service book to enable the petitioner to claim pensionary benefits. Ext.P4 is not disposed of so far. 2. The only relief prayed for by the petitioner, for the present, is to issue a direction to the first respondent to consider and dispose of Ext.P4 representation expeditiously. Learned Government Pleader appearing on behalf of the respondents submitted that Ext.P4 would be disposed of at the earliest. In the facts and circumstances of the case, the Writ Petition is disposed of as follows: a) The first respondent shall dispose of Ext.P4 as expeditiously as possible and, at any rate, within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. Petitioner waives a right of hearing before the first respondent, to facilitate expeditious disposal of Ext.P4 representation. Since the petitioner is due to retire on 31.3.2009, the first respondent W.P.(C) NO.1084 OF 2009 :: 3 :: shall take all earnest steps to dispose of Ext.P4 even before the expiry of one month. b) The petitioner shall produce a certified copy of the judgment and true copy of the Writ Petition before the first respondent. (K.T.SANKARAN) Judge ahz/