IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC MONDAY, THE 30TH NOVEMBER 2009 / 9TH AGRAHAYANA 1931 WP(C).No. 7084 of 2009(E) ------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. JAYASEKHARAN PILLAI, S/O.S.NARAYANA PILLAI, WATCHER, MARTHANDAPURAM DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT VADAKKEKARA KOCHU VEEDU, VENDAR P.O., PUTHOOR, KOLLAM DIST. 2. R.RAVEENDRAN PILLAI, S/O.M.RAMAKRISHNAN NAIR, WATCHER PATTAZHY DEVASWOM KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT THIRUVONAM, MEENAM, PATTAZHY P.O., KOLLAM DIST. 3. K.GOPAKUMAR, S/O.P.N.KRISHNAN NAIR, KAZHAKAM, P.D.MANIKANTESWARAM DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT PALLIYIL VEEDU, MANNADY P.O., MANNADY, PATHANAMTHITTA. 4. G.VIKRAMAN PILLAI, S/O.GOPINATHAN PILLAI THAVIL, CHITADEESWARAM DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT "ATHIRA", KURUMANNA, MUKHATHALA P.O., KOLLAM. 5. T.K.SATHIYAJITH, S/O.A.KALIDASANPILLAI, WATCHER, MANALI DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, GOURI SANKARAM, T R A 120, THIRUMULLAVARAM, KOLLAM-12. 6. R.AJAYAKUMAR, S/O.RAMA WARYAR, KAZHAKOM, PULLAMALA DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT PADINJARE WARRYAM, KOTTARA, MEEYANNOOR P.O., KOTTARAKARA. 7. S.MADHU, S/O.SIVASANKARA PILLAI, WATCHER, AMBALAPUZHA GROUP, RESIDING AT KURUNILAM, THAKAZHY P.O., ALAPPUZHA. 8. A.AJAYAKUMARAN UNNI, S/O.APPUKUTTAN UNNI KAZHAKAM, THATTAMANGALAM SUB GROUP, KOTTARAKKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT PUTHAN MODOM, NADUTHARY, THALAVOOR P.O. WPC NO.7084/2009 9. G.SREEPATHY, S/O.GOPALAN POTTY.V,SANTHI, P.D.MANIKANTESWARAM DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT VAYALIL PUTHEN MADOM, PADINJATINKARA, KOTTARAKARA P.O., KOLLAM DIST. 10. G.GOPAKUMAR, S/O.SREEDHARAN P ILLAI, PANCHAVADYAM, P.D.MANIKANTESWARA M DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT KAVITTAZHIKATHU VEEDU, PADINJATTINKARA, KOTTARAKARA P.O. 11. T.VIJAYAKUMAR, S/O.THULASEEDHARAN PILLAI WATCHER, CHIRAKADAVU DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT SREESYLAM, AMBIPOIKA P.O., KUNDARA, KOLLAM. 12. B.P.NIRMALANANDHAN, S/O.PARAMESWARAN NAIR, NADASWARA M, CHADAYAMANGALAM DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT SREEPADAM, MARANGATTUKONAM, VALAKAM P.O., KOLLAM. 13. THULASEEDHARAN NAIR, S/O.VASUDEVAN NAIR, WATCHER, ARUKALICKAL DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT AYANIATTU THAZHE PURA, MANNADI P.O., MANNADI. 14. RAMACHANDRAN PILLAI, S/O.PARAMESWARA KURUP, WATCHER, CHIRACKAL DEVASWOM NARIYANICKAL SUB GROUP, KARUNAGAPPALLY GROUP, RESIDING AT VALIYAVILA VEEDU, THUVAYOOR VADAKKU, MANAKAKALA P.O. 15. C.VASUDEVAN NAMBIAR, S/O.CHAKRAPANI NAMBIAR, WATCHER, VENDAR DEVASWOM, KOTTARAKARA GROUP, RESIDING AT ARAPPURA MADOM, MAVADY P.O., POOVATOOR WEST. 16. D.AJITHA KUMAR, S/O.C.DAMODHARAN PILLAI, NADASWARAM, VAIKUNDAPURARM DEVASWOM, PUNALOOR GROUP, RESIDING AT THONDALIL VEEDU, KANNIMEL, PATTAZHY P.O. 17. C.MURALEEDHARAN PILLAI, S/O.CHELLAPPAN PILLAI, PANCHAVADYAM, ASRAMOM DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT PUTHENMADATHIL THRIKKOVILVATTOM, MUKHATHALA P.O., KOLLAM. 18. N.RAMESAN, S/O.R.NEELAKANTAN NAIR, WATCHER, MUKHATHALA DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP RESIDING AT KRISHNAKRIPA, PERUMPUZHA P.O., KUNDARA. WPC NO.7084/2009 19. S.REMADEVI, W/O.SASIDHARAN NAIR, THALI, THIRUMULLAVARAM DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT MADATHIL VEEDU, THIRUMULLAVARAM, KOLLAM-12. 20. S.ANANDAKRISHNAN POTTY, SANTHI, KOLLOORVILA DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT VAISHNAVAM, KILIKOLLOOR P.O., M.G.NAGAR-3, (NEAR PLACHERY MADOM), KOLLAM-4. 21. G.RAVIKUMAR, S/O.N.GOPALAN NAIR, THAVI, UMAYANALLOOR DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT PERAYIL HOUSE, MUKHATHALA P.O., KOLLAM. 22. S.PRADEEP KUMAR, S/O.V.SASIDHARAN PILLAI WATCHER, VALLIKKEEZHU DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT PALLIKKAL HOUSE, KUZHIYAM, CHEMMAKKAD P.O., PERINAD, KOLLAM. 23. EASWARAN POTTY, S/O.SAMBHU POTTY,SANTHI, KANNANALLOOR DEVASWOM,KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT SANTHI BHAVAN, MUKHATHALA P.O., KOLLAM. 24. G.RAJENDRAN PILLAI, S/O.R.GOPINATHAN PILLAI, THAVIL, MUKHATHALA DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP, RESIDING AT GIRIJA BHAVAN, NADUVILAKKARA, ALUMMOODU P.O., MUKHATHALA, KOLLAM. 25. R.UDAYAN, S/O.M.RAVEENDRAN, WATCHER, KANNANALLOOR, MUKHATHALA, RESIDING AT THODIYIL MELATHIL, THRIKKOVILVATTOM, MUKHATHALA P.O., KOLLAM DISTRICT. 26. J.REJI, S/O.JANARDHANAN PILLAI, THALI, KANJIRAMCODE DEVASWOM, KOLLAM GROUP. 27. S.ANILKUMAR, S/O.N.SREEDHARAN PILLAI, PANCHAVADYAM, MARTHANDAPURAM DEVASWOM, MARTHANDAPURAM SUB GROUP, KOLLAM GROUP. 28. S.GANAPATHY POTTY, S/O.SANKARAN POTTY, SANTHI, NILAKKAL DEVASWOM, SABARIMALA GROUP, RESIDING AT GOKULAM, OYOOR P.O., VELINALLOOR, KOLLAM. 29. VIKRAMAN, S/O.VASUDEVAN PILLAI, KAZHAKOM, NILAKKAL DEVASWOM, SABARIMAL GROUP, RESIDING AT KALALAYAM, VADAMON P.O., PUNALUR. BY ADV. SRI.C.UNNIKRISHNAN (KOLLAM) SRI.S.HARIKRISHNAN WPC NO.7084/2009 RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD-REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEVASWOM BOARD OFFICE, NANDANCODE, TRIVANDRUM. 2. DEVASWOM COMMISSIONER, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, NANDANCODE, TRIVANDRUM. 3. GEETHAKUMARI, L.D.C., OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, ARANMULA. 4. USHA RANI, L.D.AUDITOR, ASST.AUDIT OFFICE, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, ALUVA. 5. THULASIDHARAN NAIR, L.D.C., OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD, KARUNAGAPALLY. 6. STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF DEVASWOM, SECRETARIAT, TRIVANDRUM. ADV. SRI.P.G.PARAMESWARA PANICKER, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR R1 SRI.P.GOPAL FOR R1 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 30/11/2009, ALONG WITH WPC NO. 8698 OF 2009 THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ------------------------- W.P.(C.) Nos.7084 of 2009 (E) & 8698 of 2009 (F) --------------------------------- Dated, this the 30th day of November, 2009 J U D G M E N T Prayer sought in these writ petitions is to direct the respondents to increase the percentage of vacancies earmarked to low paid temple employees from 22% to 50% or to such percentage as this Court deems fit in the matter of promotion to the post of Lower Division Clerk / Sub Group Officer Gr.II. 2. When these cases came up for orders on 10/08/2009, having regard to the fact that it is a policy matter, this Court passed an interim order directing the Board to consider the claim made in these writ petitions. It is now reported by the learned standing counsel appearing for the Board that in pursuance to the said order, the Board considered the claim raised in these writ petitions and have resolved to increase the percentage from 22% to 35%, and that further action on that basis for gazette publication, is going on. 3. Evidently the fixation of percentage as sought for in WP(C) Nos.7084 & 8698/2009 -2- these writ petitions is a policy matter and unless the policy is vitiated by arbitrariness or malafides, this Court will not be justified in interfering with the same. Now that the Board itself has resolved to increase the percentage as stated above, I record the submission and close these writ petitions directing the Board to take further action in pursuance thereof. These writ petitions are accordingly closed. (ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE) jg