IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN THURSDAY, THE 7TH AUGUST 2008 / 16TH SRAVANA 1930 WP(C).No. 22614 of 2008(P) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ DR.K.BALAKRISHNAN CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, TALUK AYURVEDA HOSPITAL, WAYANAD DISTRICT. BY ADV. SMT.AYSHA YOUSEFF SMT.MOLLY JACOB RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DIRECTOR, INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINES THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT. M.R. SREELATHA THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 07/08/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN,J. ------------------------- W.P ( C) No.22614 of 2008 -------------------------- Dated this the 7th August, 2008 J U D G M E N T The petitioner is presently working as Chief Medical Officer in the Taluk Ayurveda Hospital (Indian System of Medicine) in Sulthan Bathery. He is due to retire from service on 31.8.2008 on attaining the age of superannuation. The grievance voiced by the petitioner is that notwithstanding the existence of six vacant posts of District Medical Officers, the respondents are not taking steps to effect promotions. The petitioner submits that by virtue of his seniority, he is eligible to be promoted as District Medical Officer. The petitioner has submitted Exhibits P2 and P3 representations to the Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department seeking promotion as District Medical Officer. W.P ( C) No.22614 of 2008 2 2. As the post of District Medical Officer is a selection post, the Departmental Promotion Committee will have to be constituted to select candidates for promotion to the said post. In that view of the matter, I dispose of the writ petition with a direction to the first respondent to consider the petitioner's request in Exhibits P2 and P3 and pass appropriate orders thereon, within a period of two weeks from the date on which the petitioner produces a copy of this judgment. It will also be open to the respondents to consider whether the petitioner and other senior Chief Medical Officers can be provisionally promoted to the post of District Medical Officer. (P.N.RAVINDRAN, JUDGE) ma W.P ( C) No.22614 of 2008 3 W.P ( C) No.22614 of 2008 4