IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI THURSDAY, THE 1ST NOVEMBER 2007 / 10TH KARTHIKA 1929 WP(C).No. 32431 of 2007(J) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ---------------------- 1. M.K.THANKAMMA, ASSISTANT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER, THODUPUZHA. 2. BABY KURUVILLA, PRINCIPAL (HEADMASTER) GOVERNMENT VOCATIONAL HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL MOOLAMATTOM. BY ADVS. SRI.KRB.KAIMAL (SR.) SRI.ANIL K.NAIR SRI.B.UNNIKRISHNA KAIMAL SRI.V.MADHUSUDHANAN SRI.PRAMJI PAUL VAZHAPPILLY RESPONDENTS: --------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA,REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.BEJOY CHANDRAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 01/11/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: V.GIRI, J. ------------------------- W.P.(C).No.32431 of 2007 J ------------------------- Dated this the 1st day of November, 2007. JUDGMENT First petitioner is an Assistant Educational Officer and the second petitioner is a principal (Headmaster) in the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Moolamattom. They are qualified and eligible to be promoted to the post of District Educational Officer/Assistant Directors of General Education Department. They are included in Ext.P1 select list. According to the petitioners, Ext.P1 select list has been operated upon and out of 14 vacancies, 7 have been filled up. They contend that there are 7 more vacancies in the post of District Educational Officer. Reference is also made to the vacancies in the post of District Project Officer in the Sarva Siksha Abyiyan (SSA), which have also to be filled up by District Educational Officer, according to the petitioners. Learned senior counsel for the W.P.(C).NO.32431/07 :: 2 :: petitioners Mr.K.R.B.Kaimal refers to each petitioner who have crossed the age of 55 years in October, 2007. They are to continue till the end of this academic year, 31.3.2008. According to them, vacancies have arisen prior to October, 2007. 2. Having heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Government Pleader, the writ petition is disposed of in the following terms: (a) First respondent shall take a decision as to whether the existing vacancies in the post of District Educational Officer as also the post of District Project Officers (SSA) are to be filled up. A decision in this regard shall be taken within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. (b) If it is decided that the post of District Educational Officer {as also the post of District Project W.P.(C).NO.32431/07 :: 3 :: Officer [SSA]} is to be filled up, appropriate action shall be taken to fill up those vacancies operating Ext.P1 select list. If so, appropriate steps will be taken without further delay. Sd/- (V.GIRI) JUDGE sk/ //true copy// P.S. To Judge