IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN TUESDAY, THE 8TH FEBRUARY 2011 / 19TH MAGHA 1932 WP(C).No. 38570 of 2010(U) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- BAIJU.H.N., AGED 33 YEARS, S/O. HRISHIKESAN NAIR, SHIJU NIVAS, ARASUPARMBU,NEDUMANGAD.P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.T.A.UNNIKRISHNAN SRI.K.SATHEESH KUMAR SRI.K.S.PRAVEEN RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE REGIONAL MANAGER, PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK, REGIONAL OFFICE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. 2. THE SENIOR MANAGER, PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK, ZONAL OFFICE, KOZHIKKODE-673001. 3. THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, PUNJAB BANK, H.R.D. DIVISION, HEAD OFFICE NEW DELHI-110001. 4. THE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK, HEAD OFFICE, NEW DELHI-110001. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08/02/2011, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. Siri Jagan, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= W.P(C) No. 38570 of 2010 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this, the 8th day of February, 2011. J U D G M E N T The petitioner claims that the petitioner has been the personal driver engaged by the senior officers of the Punjab National Bank and therefore he is entitled to be regularised in service. The petitioner seeks the following relief: “Issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the respondents to absorb the petitioner in the service of the Punjab National Bank, considering his long term of service as personal driver to the senior officer of the bank.” 2. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner. 3. The Bank in question is a nationalised bank. The employment as a driver in a nationalised bank is a public employment. Every qualified person is entitled to compete for selection to that post. Therefore, unless the petitioner satisfies this Court that he was initially engaged after undergoing a selection process in which other qualified persons were also given an opportunity to participate, the petitioner cannot claim regularization. The petitioner has not produced any material to show that the petitioner was actually engaged after undergoing a selection process known to law. For that reason alone, the writ petition is liable to be dismissed. Apart from that, the petitioner was only a personal driver of the officer of the bank and not appointed as an employee of the bank itself. For the above reasons, the writ petition is dismissed. Sd/- S. Siri Jagan, Judge. Tds/ [TRUE COPY] P.S TO JUDGE.