IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI WEDNESDAY, THE 10TH OCTOBER 2007 / 18TH ASWINA 1929 WP(C).No. 30089 of 2007(F) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ C.T.JOJU, AGED 44 YEARS, S/O.P.K.THOMAS, FOREST RANGE OFFICER, PALAPILLY FOREST RANGE, VARANDARAPALLY, THRISSUR DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.B.S.SWATHY KUMAR SRI.K.HARILAL SRI.BINDU SREEKUMAR RESPONDENTS: ------------------ 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, FOREST AND WILD LIFE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (ADMINISTRATION), FOREST HEAD QUARTERS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE DEPARTMENTAL PROMOTION COMMITTEE (HIGHER), FOREST AND WILD LIFE DEPARTMENT, REPRESENTED BY ITS CONVENOR, KERALA STATE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI. BIJOY CHANDRAN, GOVERNMENT PLEADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 23/10/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V. GIRI ,J. ------------------------------- WP(C).NO.30089 of 2007 --------------------------------- Dated this the 10th day of October, 2007 JUDGMENT The petitioner is at present holding the post of Forest Range Officer in Thrissur District. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated as evidenced by Ext.P1 and Ext.P2 dated 4.10.2001 and Ext.P4 dated 16.1.2006 which is a memo of charges. Ext.P4 shows that the disciplinary enquiry contemplated is in relation to alleged irregularities which the petitioner has allegedly committed, while he was officiating as a Range Officer, Valayar during the period from 5.6.1999 to 14.6.2002. The disciplinary enquiry contemplated by Exts.P1, P2 and P4, by the nature of the charges levelled against the petitioner should be completed, as early as possible. The petitioner has a grievance that due to pendency of the disciplinary proceedings, his name is not being considered by the Departmental Promotion Committee for promotion to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forests. 2. Having heard the learned senior counsel for the petitioner Sri.Achutha Kurup and the learned Government Pleader, the writ petition is disposed of directing the first respondent to finalise the disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner as evidenced by Exts.P1, P2 and P4, within a period of 10 weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. V. GIRI, JUDGE css/