IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC TUESDAY, THE 21ST AUGUST 2007 / 30TH SRAVANA 1929 WP(C).No. 25336 of 2007(N) -------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ L.SOMA ROY, AMALA COTTAGE,TC 12/498,TRA-69 THEKKUMMOODU,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM -695 035. (ASSISTANT CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (SENIOR GRADE) FOREST PUBLICITY OFFICER)OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,SOCIAL FORSTRY,TVM. (RTD) BY ADV. SRI.B.RAGUNATHAN SRI.V.V.MATHEW RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT FOREST AND WILD LIFE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 001. 2. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM -695 014. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. BIJOY CHANDRAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 21/08/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC,J. ------------------------- W.P ( C) No.25336 of 2007 -------------------------- Dated this the 21st day of August, 2007 J U D G M E N T Petitioner entered in service in 1962 as a Forest Ranger and retired as Assistant Conservator of Forests (Senior Grade) on 31.3.1993. According to him, school records contained his date of birth as 11.8.1114 ME. The corresponding Christian Era that he was entered as 24.3.1938 and it was on that basis he retired on 31.3.1993. 2. The case of the petitioner is the date corresponding to his date of birth is actually 24.3.1939 and if that was incorporated in the service records he would have continued in service for one more year. Seeking correction of his date of birth in the service records and for granting benefits, petitioner submitted Exhibit-P4 representation dated 10.2.2007 which has been rejected by the 2nd respondent by Exhibit-P5. It is submitted that Exhibit-P4 was addressed to the 1st respondent and copy alone was forwarded to the 2nd respondent. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner, the 2nd respondent was incompetent to consider or pass orders thereon. W.P ( C) No.25336 of 2007 2 Be that as it may, the petitioner retired as early as on 31.3.1993. At least at that point of time he should have realised that his date of birth in the service records is erroneous. It is only in 2007 he woke up and represented. Claim now raised is highly belated and does not deserve to be considered at this distance of time. For the delay and laches involved, I dismiss this writ petition. (ANTONY DOMINIC,JUDGE) ma W.P ( C) No.25336 of 2007 2 K.THANKAPPAN,J CRL.A. NO.92 OF 1999 ORDER 25th May, 2007