IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN MONDAY, THE 13TH DECEMBER 2010 / 22ND AGRAHAYANA 1932 WP(C).No. 37089 of 2010(I) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER GR.I SCHEDULED CASTE DEVEOPMENT OFFICER GRADE.II, SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE,PARASSALA BLOCK, PARASSALA.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST. 2. PRASANNAN.R., SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER GR.II, SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE,PARASSALA BLOCK, PARASSALA.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST 3. ASUMA BEEVI.A, SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER GR.II, SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE,PARASSALA BLOCK, PARASSALA.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST 4. SARATHCHANDRIKA DEVI.P.S. SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER GR.II, SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE,PARASSALA BLOCK, PARASSALA.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIST. BY ADV. SMT.SREEDEVI KYLASANATH SRI.V.SADASIVAN SMT.V.J.SAFEENA RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE DIRECTOR, SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORATE, AYYANKALI BHAVAN, VELLAYAMBALAM,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. 2. THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, SCHEDULED CASTE/SCHEDULED TRIBES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. 3. THE DEPARTMENT PROMOTION COMMITTEE (LOWER) REPRESENTED BY ITS CONVENOR, SCHEDULED CASTE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORATE, AYYANKALI BHAVAN, VELLAYAMBALAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. GOVT. PLEADER SHRI.ANTONY MUKKATH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13/12/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P.(C).No.37089 of 2010 ================== Dated this the 13th day of December, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are Junior Superintendents in the Department of Scheduled Caste Development of the Government of Kerala. They aspire for promotion to the post of Senior Superintendents. But a new qualification has been introduced by way of two years of experience. According to the petitioners, when a new qualification has been prescribed, the incumbents should have been given an opportunity to acquire that qualification and they should have been considered for promotion in accordance with the seniority subject to acquiring that new qualification. Seeking this relief, the 1st petitioner has filed Exts.P9 and P10 representations before the 2nd respondent. The petitioners seek a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider and pass orders on Exts.P9 and P10, expeditiously. 2. I have heard the learned Government Pleader also. 3. Having heard both sides, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider and pass orders on Exts.P9 and P10 after affording an opportunity of being heard to the petitioners, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge 2