IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR THURSDAY, THE 23RD DECEMBER 2010 / 2ND POUSHA 1932 WP(C).No. 3488 of 2008(M) ------------------------- PETITIONER: -------------- 1. SHEELA.E., W/O.BALAKRISHNAN, CHIRAYIL HOUSE, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 2. KAMALA.K., W/O.SREEDHARAN.P., KUNNATH MEETHAL HOUSE, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 3. NARAYANI.P., W/O.KANARAN MASTER, DHARESH BHAVAN, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 4. GEETHA.C., W/O.NANU, ASARIKANDHIYIL HOUSE, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 5. KAMALA.C., W/O.NANU, CHUNDAKKATTIL HOUSE, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 6. USHA.K., W/O.RAJAN.A.T., HARIGEETH HOUSE, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 7. GIRIJA, W/O.NADU.C.K., CHAVELAKULANGARA, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 8. KALAVATHY.K., W/O.LATE RAJAN, KALLAMMAKOOR HOUSE, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 9. PARVATHY.T.M., W/O.DAMODARAN, THEKKEMADATHIL HOUSE, AROOR, VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 10. PREETHA.V.P., W/O.BHASKARAN, WP(C).No. 3488 of 2008(M) 2 VALIYAPEEDIKAYIL, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 11. NISHA.C.K., CHARYALATHAZHAKUNIYIL, ARUR P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 12. SUJA.K., W/O.CHANDRAN, KURALATHTHAZHAKUNIYIL, PURAMERI P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 13. BEENA.K., W/O.DAMODARAN, PADINJARE MUTHUVADU, PURAMERI P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 14. SUMATHI.K., PADINJARE MUTHUVADU, PURAMERI P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 15. KAMALA.M.M., MUTHUVADU MEETHAL, PURAMERI P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT 16. SHEEBA.R.M., NIDUMPURAM KANDIYIL, PURAMERI P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 17. PRASEETHA, W/O.RAMESAN, PURAYULLATHIL, PURAMERI P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 18. RADHA.P.P., W/O.KUNHIKANNAN, ERANJOLITHAZHAKUNI, PURAMERI P.O., VADAKARA TALUK, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.P.S.SREEDHARAN PILLAI SMT.C.G.PREETHA RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE, PURAMERI, ARUR POST, KOZHIKODE-673 507. 4. PURAMERI GRAMA PANCHAYATH, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PURAMERI P.O., KOZHIKODE-673 503. WP(C).No. 3488 of 2008(M) 3 5. BINDU.K., KANIYANTAVIDE, PURAMERI P.O., KOZHIKODE-673 503. 6. SUDHA.K.V., "SAROVARAM", PURAMERI P.O., KOZHIKODE-673 503. 7. ANITHA, KAPPALLI THAZHEKUNI, KUNINGAD, KOZHIKODE-673 503. 8. PUSHPA.N, ILLATHUKUNIYIL, PURAMERI P.O., KOZHIKODE-673 503. 9. SOBHA.O., ONTTAMMAL HOUSE, ARUR P.O., KOZHIKODE-673 507. 10. MINIJA.T.K., KUYYADIYIL THAMARIKKUM MALAYIL HOUSE, ARUR P.O., KOZHIKODE-673 507. BY SR.GOVT.PLEADER SHRI A.J.VARGHESE ADV. SRI.C.R.SIVAKUMAR FOR R4 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 23/12/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR,J. ------------------------------------- W.P.(C)No.3488 Of 2008 ----------------------------------------------------- DATED THIS THE 23rd DAY OF DECEMBER, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioners herein are complaining of the appointment of respondents 5 to 10 as “ASHA Workers” in preference to the petitioners. According to the petitioners, they are the Mahila Swasth Sangh (MSS) Volunteers attached to Purameri Primary Health Centre, Arur, Kozhikode District. They are engaged as such from 1993. They are also giving free service to the Health Department for the last so many years. According to them, Exhibit P2 guidelines for appointment of ASHA Workers provides for preference to the MSS Volunteers. But, respondents 1 and 4 selected respondents 5 to 13 on a political basis. 2. On behalf of the Panchayat a counter affidavit has been filed pointing out that there is no irregularity in the selection. 3. It is upto the 2nd respondent to go into the various aspects to find out whether there is any illegality in the selection process of ASHA Workers. The 2nd respondent will conduct due enquiry into the matter with notice to the petitioners and other W.P.(C)No.3488/08 -2- necessary parties and take a decision within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The Writ Petition is disposed of as above. SD/-( T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR, JUDGE) dsn