IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.N.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR FRIDAY, THE 31ST OCTOBER 2008 / 9TH KARTHIKA 1930 WP(C).No. 32167 of 2006(D) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- N.UDAYAKUMAR, PEON, THAZHAVA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KOLLAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. DR.K.P.SATHEESAN SRI.K.K.GOPINATHAN NAIR SMT.C.V.RAJALAKSHMI RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT (H) DEPARTMENT, GOVT. SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS, KOLLAM. 4. MOHAMMEDKUNJU, PART TIME SWEEPER, THAZHAVA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KOLLAM. ADDL. 5. K. NAJIMATH, FULL TIME SWEEPER, VILAKUDY GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KUNNIKODE, KOLLAM DISTRICT (NOW RESIDING AT RAMEENA MANZIL, KUNNIKIODE P.O., KOLLAM) ADDL. 6. C. PONNAMMA, FULL TIME SWEEPER, VILAKUDY GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KUNNIKODE, KOLLAM DISTRICT (NOW RESIDING AT ASWATHY BHAVAN, KAKKODE P.O., PUNALOOR) ADDL.7. F.B. HELAN, FULL TIME SWEEPER, TRIKADAVOOR GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KOLLAM DISTRICT (NOW RESIDING AT HIDAS COTTAGE, MATHILIL P.O., KOLLAM) ADDL. 8. S. LAILA BEEVI, FULL TIME SWEEPER, NEDUMPANA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KOLLAM DIST., (NOW RESIDING AT PUNNAVILA VEEDU, VADAKKUMKARA EAST, UMAYANELLOOR P.O., KOLLAM. 2 ADDL.9. A. BEEVIJAN, FULL TIME SWEEPER, NEDUVATHOOR GRAMA PANCHAYAT, KOLLAM DIST. (NOW RESIDING AT FATHIMA MANZIL, AVANOOR, KOTTARAKARA P.O., KOLLAM) ADDL.10. P. THANKAMANY PILLAI, FULL TIME SWEEPER, THEVALAKARA GRAMA PANCHAYAT, KOLLAM DIST. (NOW RESIDING AT B.K. BHAVAN, KAIVILA P.O. KOLLAM.) ADDL.11.G. SUMATHY AMMA, FULL TIME SWEEPER, KUNNATHUR GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KOLLAM DIST. (NOW RESIDING AT ANUPAM, PUTHOOR, KOTTARAKARA) ADDL.12. E. OMANA AMMA, FULL TIME SWEEPER, KUNNATHUR GRAMA PANCHAHATH, KOLLAM DIST. (AYANIVILA VEEDU, MANAKKARA, SASTHAMCOTTA, KOLLAM) ADDL. 13. C. PUSHPAKARAN, SON OF V. CHELLAPPAN, AGED 46 YEARS,FULL TIME SWEEPER, KUNDARA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, KUNDARA. ADDL. 14. N.C. LUCY, WIFE OF C.T. JOSE, AGED 49 YEARS, L.D. CLERK, CHOONDAL GRAMA PANCHAYATH, THRISSUR DIST. ADDL.15. K. OMANA,. F.T. MENIAL, PUTHUR GRAMA PANCHAYATH,THRISSUR DIST. ADDL. 16. K.B. HAREENDRAN NAIR, F.T. SWEEPER, VENGOLA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, ERNAKULAM DIST. ADDL.17. P.C. VELAYUDHAN KUTTY, PRESIDENT, ERALA PANCHAYAT EMPLOYEES ORGANISATION (JUNIOR SUPERINTENDENT PERFORMANCE AUDIT UNIT, PANCHAYATH ASST. DIRECTOR OFFICE, MALAPPURAM) ADDL.18. T.V. UDAYABHANU, GENERAL SECRETARY, KERALA PANCHAYAT EMPLOYEES ORGANISATION (JUNIOR SUPERINTENDENT PANCHAYATH ASST. DIRECTOR OFFICE, ERNAKULAM) ADDL.19. KERALA PANCHAYATH EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, STATE COMMITTEE, TRIVANDRUM 1 REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY. ADDL.20. T.T.SARASWATHY, FULL TIME SWEEPER, PANDALAM GRAMA PANCHAYATH, PATHANAMTHITTA DIST. ADDL. 21. M.K. ASOKAN, FULL TIME SWEEPER, NAYARAMBALAM GRAMA PANCHAYATH, ERNAKULAM DIST. ADDL. 22. ANTONY ALEXANDER, PEON, DIRECTORATE OF PANCHAYATHS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. ADDL.23. S. SAJITH KUMAR, PEON, NANNIYODE GRAMA PANCHAYATH, NANNIYODE, PACHA P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. ADDL.24. SAFEENA, S., PEON, PANAVOOR GRAMA PANCHAYATH, NEDUMANGAD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. ADDL.25. PREMANAN,J., PEON, VELLORADA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, PANACHAMOODU PO THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. ADDL.26. JAMALUDEEN KUNJU, FULL TIME SWEEPER, OACHIRA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, RESIDING AT JASEERA MANZIL, MAVELI, PANAMANA MANAYIL P.O., CHAVARA, KOLLAM DIST. 3 ADDL. 27. ANANDAVALLY, K.A., W/O. VIJAYAN, K.K., AGED 51 YEARS, RESIDING AT KALLUMPURATHU HOUSE, ADIMALY, P.O., IDUKKI DIST. ADDL. 28. V.M. RAMANI, W/O. K.N. KRISHNAN, AGED 49 YEARS, RESIDING AT KOCHUPARAMBIL HOUSE, PURAPPUZHA P.O., THODUPUZHA. ADDL.29. V. SUJATHA, W/O. M.G. SOMAN, AGED 42 YEARS, RESIDING AT VIDHYABHAVAN PEERUMEDU P.O., PEERUMEDU, IDUKKI DIST. ADDL.30. NAGAMMA, K.,W/O. A. SUBBAYYAN, AGED 47 YEARS, SUBISH BHAVANAM. CHELIMADU, KUMULUY P.O., PERUMEDU, IDUKKI DIST. ADDL. 31. SHYAMALAKUMARI, W/O. CHANDRASEKHARAN NAIR, AGED 50 YEARS, RESIDING AT VARIKKANIKKAL, KOMBAYAR P.O., PARATHODU VILLAGE, UDUMBANCHOLA. ADDL. 32 C.C. CHARLES, SON OF CHACKO, RESIDING AT CHARUVILA HOUSE, NAYARANGADI, P.O. KODASSERY, CHALAKUDY, THRISSUR DIST. PRESENTLY WORKING AS PEON, ATHIRAPPALLY GRAMA PANCHAYATH, ATHIRAPPALLY. ADDL.33.A.S. SATHEESH, SON OF K. SANKARAN, ANDIYATHU VALAPPIL HOUSE, P.O. PEECHI, WORKING AS PEON, VADANAPPILLY GRAMA PANCHAYATH, VADANAPPILLY. ADDL.34. SINDHU P.R., W/O. RADHAKRISHNAN A.K., ANKARATH HOUSE, ELINJIPRA P.O., CHALAKUDI, WORKING AS PEON, MATTATHUR GRAMA PANCHAYATH, MATTATHUR. ADDL.35. JAMALU, B.,S/O. MAMMUNHI, AGED 46 YEARS, GOLIADI HOUSE, BADIAKA, PERDALA P.O., KASARAGOD DIST. PART TIME LIBRARIAN, ENMAKAYI GRAMA PANCHAYATH. ADDL.36. K. BALAN, SON OF KANNAN, AGED 48 YEARS, PONNUMUNDA, BALAL P.O., KASARAGOD, FULL TIME SWEEPER UDUMA GRAMA PANCHAYATH. ADDL. 37.B.A. MALINKUNNI, SON OF ABBAS MUSLIYAR, AGED 38 YEARS, AL AMEEN MANZIL, BIRMINADKA, KASARAGOD, POUND KEEPER, KARADKA GRAMA PANCHAYATH. ADDL.38. VISHALU, G., W/O. PRAKASAN, K., AGED 32 YEARS, VISHNU NIVAS, KIZHOOR KADAPURAM, CHANDRAGIRI P.O., KASARAGOD, PART TIME SWEEPER, KARADKA GRAMA PANCHAYATH. ADDL.39. KARUNAKARAN NAMBIAR, SON OF LATE P. KUNHAMBU NAMBIAR, MULARKAMTHOTTY HOUSE, KOMPANADUKAM, CHEMNAD P.O., KASARAGOD, PART TIME LIBRARIAN, MOGRAL GRAMA PANCHAYATH. ADDL.40. AMMINI, K.N., W/O. SASIKUMAR, P., SREENANDANAM HOUSE, SHRIBAGILU POST, PERIADUKA, KASARAGOD, FULL TIME SWEEPER, UDAMA GRAMA PANCHAYATH. ADDL.41. RAGHAVAN, A.T., SON OF CHANDANVELICHAPADA, AGED 42 YEARS, AMBEMOOLA HOUSE, P.O. MULLERIA, KASARAGOD, FULL TIME SWEEPER, NILESWARA GRAMA PANCHAYATH. 4 ADDL.42. A.R. RAJESHKUMAR, S/O. KAMALA NAIK, AGED 33 YEARS, KOTTAKAVINI HOUSE, RAMDAS NAGAR P.O. KASARAGOD, PART TIME LIBRARIAN, KARADUKA GRAMA PANCHAYATH. ADDL. R5 TO R12 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON I.A.NO. 203 OF 2007 DATED 11.1.2007 ADDL. R13 IS IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON I.A.446/07 DATED 11.1.2007 ADDL. R14 TO R18 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON I.A.1272/07 DATED 7.2.2007 ADDL. R19 TO R21 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON I.A.1379/07 DATED 12.2.2007 ADDL. R22 TO R25 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON I.A. 3037/07 DATED 1.3.2007 ADDL. R26 IS IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER IN I.A4041/07 DATED 21.3.2007 ADDL. R27 TO R31 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON I.A.7069/07 DATED 31.10.08 ADDL. 32 TO R34 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON IA 3594/ 2008 DATED 31.10.2008 ADDL. 35 TO R42 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER ON I.A. 12980/08 DATED 31.10.08 ADV. SRI.P.SIVARAJ FOR ADDL.R5 TO 12 SRI.V.A.MUHAMMED FOR ADDL.R13 & 14 TO 18 SRI.K.E.HAMZA FOR ADDL.R13 & 14 TO 18 SRI.K.JAJU BABU FOR ADDL. R19 TO R21 SRI.K.SASIKUMAR FOR ADDL. R22 TO R25 SRI.GEORGE VARGHESE(PERUMPALLIKUTTIYIL) FOR ADDL.R26 SRI.A.R.DILEEP FOR ADDL.R26 SMT.KAVITHA GANGADHARAN FOR ADDL.R26 SRI. NAGARAJ NARAYANAN FOR ADDL.R32 TO 34 SRI.SAIJO HASSAN FOR ADDL.R32 TO 34 GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.JOICE GEORGE FOR ADDL.R27 TO R31 SRI.V.N.RAMESAN NAMBISAN FOR ADDL.R35 TO 42 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 31/10/2008, ALONG WITH WPC NO. 10505 OF 2007 WPC NO. 12903 OF 2007 THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: 5 APPENDIX (WPC32167/06) PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER G.O. (MS) NO. 186/06/LSGD DATED 3.8.2006 EXT.P2 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 27.11.2006 ANNEXURE I TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. E3-12282 OF 2006 DATED 30.1.2007 ISSUED BY THE PANCHAYATH DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. RESPONDENTS 5 TO 12'S EXHIBITS: EXT.R5 (a) TRUE COPY OF THE INTERIM ORDER DATED 15.12.2006 IN WPC 32167 OF 2006 OF THIS HON'BLE COURT. EXT.R5(b) TRUE COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATS, KOTTAYAM WHEREBY PEONS AND PART TIME/FULL TIME SWEEPERS ARE PROVISIONALLY APPOINTED AS L.D. CLERKS IN PANCHAYAT SUBORDINATE SERVICE DATED 31.10.2006 RESPONDENTS 19 TO 21'S EXHIBITS: EXT.R19(a) TRUE COPY OF MINUTES OF THE DISCUSSONS HELD BY THE MINISTER FOR LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT ON 17.5.2005 EXT.R19(b) TRUE COPY OF MINUTES OF THE DISCUSSIONS HELD BY THE MINISTER FOR LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT ON 16.7.2005 RESPONDENTS 13,14 TO 18'S EXHIBITS: EXT.R13(a) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. E3-9927/2005 OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS DATED 9.10.2006 EXT.R13(b) TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. E5-4010/06 (1) OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PANCHAYATHS, PATHANAMTHITTA DATED 6.12.2006 TRUE COPY P.S. TO JUDGE. C.N. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, J. ------------------------------------------------------- W.P.C. NO. 32167/06 & 12903 & 10505/07 -------------------------------------------- Dated this the 31st day of October, 2008 JUDGMENT Connected Writ Petitions are filed challenging proposed amendment to Kerala Panchayath Subordinate Service (Special) Rules providing for 5 per cent reservation to part-time, and full time contingent staff of the Panchayaths for promotion to the post of Lower Division Clerks. Petitioners are peons who are also given 5 per cent reservation along with part-time and full time contingent staff. According to the petitioners, entire 10% should be reserved for peons as they have undergone a selection process by PSC prior to their appointment, whereas part-time and full time contingent staff are not comparable to them. The challenge pertains to appointments in two Districts, and it is stated in Court that in all other Districts the proposed amendment is implemented and there is no challenge against the same. In any case, since challenge is only against proposed amendment, I dispose of the Writ Petitions directing the Government to finalise the matter pertaining to amendment of Special Rules. If amendment is 2 adverse to petitioners or any other party, they are free to approach this Court. There will be direction to the respondents not to fill up 10% vacancies of LDCs by persons from any of the categories of Peons, part-time and full time contingent staff until amendment is carried out. Government is directed to decide on amendment within three months from the date of production of a copy of this judgment by the petitioners. (C.N. RAMACHANDRAN NAIR) Judge kk 3