IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI TUESDAY, THE 1ST APRIL 2008 / 12TH CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 4618 of 2008(Y) --------------------------------------- PETITIONERS: ---------------------- 1. BEENA K.ABRAHAM, ONISSERI HOUSE, THRISILERY P.O.,670 646, KARTIKULAM VIA, WAYANAD DISTRICT. 2. MINI.K.V K.V.NIVAS, KOTTATHARA P.O.673 121, KALPETTA (VIA) WAYANAD DISTRICT. 3. VIJAYALAKSHMI P,PALLIKKATTIL HOUSE, MANGALAM P.O., 676 109,TIRUR. 4. INDIRA T.K., THARKKIYENGALAY KUNNATH HOUSE, P.O.NIRAMARUTHUR 676 109, VIA TIRUR, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 5. PUSHPA.P. PADANNAYIL HOUSE, CHALIYAM P.O., 673 301, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 6. SINDHU .K.,KUNNEKKATTE (H) THEKKUMMURI P.O., TIRUR 676105, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 7. SUNITHA .K., KILIYANTHODI HOUSE, HOSPITAL ROAD, NILAMBUR 679 329, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 8. USHA.M.,W/O. VISWANATHAN.P., N.H.COLONY, ARIMBRA P.O., 673 638 KONDOTTY VIA, MALAPPUAM DISTRICT. 9. JAYABHARATHY K.K.,KALATHIL HOUSE, KUNNUMALPOTTY P.O., NAROKKAVE, EDAKKARA VIA, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN 679 331. Kss ..2/- ...2... WPC.NO.4618/2008 Y 10. REMI.K.KURUPPANCHERI KURUPPANCHERI HOUSE, MANGALAM P.O., MALAPPURAM DISTICT,PIN 676 561. 11. JISHA.D.V.,U.K.C.BHAVAN PERUVALLUR P.O., 673 638, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 12. SOBHANA.V,PANDIYATTUPPURAM HOUSE, ANDIYOORKUNNU P.O.,PULIKKAL (VIA) MALAPPURAM DISTRICT 673 637. 13. RADHIKA.G,KALARICKAL HOUSE, KIZHUPARAMBA P.O., AREACODE (VIA) MALAPPURAM DISRICT 673 639. 14. INDU.K.V, KRISHNA NIVAS,VALANCHERY P.O., 676 552 MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 15. V.SABITHA,THARAVOT HOUSE, EDAPPATTA P.O., MELATTUR VIA, MALAPPURAM DISTRIT 679 326. 16. BEENA.V. KOTTAKKATTUCHALIL HOUSE,KUZHIMANNA P.O., MALAPPURAM DISTRICT,PIN 673 641. 17. SREEJA.V., VATOLI VARIYAM,NEAR VATTOLI TEMPLE, MANASERY P.O., MUKKOM VIA, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT 673 602. 18. DHANYA DAVID,"EDEMI" ELLUKKARAN HOUSE, KOLATHARA P.O.,KUNDAYATHODU, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT. 19. ANITHA.M., THAZHATHEYIL HOUSE, P.O. CHETTIPPADI,MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN 676 319. 20. PREETHA.R., PANNIKKARTHODI HOUSE, P.O.CHETTIPPADI, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 21. SANTHAKUMARI.K, KOLOTHODY HOUSE, MAKKARAPPARAMBA P.O., MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN 676 507. Kss ..3/- ...3... WPC.NO.4618/2008 Y 22. MINI.N.P. MANTHARATHIL PISHARAM,KOLATHUR P.O., MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN 679 338. 23. RANIMOL.T.,K.K.HOUSE MORAYUR P.O.,MALAPPURAM DISTRICT PIN 673 649. 24. SUMAYYA.N. NEDIYEDATH HOUSE, KEEZHATOOR P.O., PATTIKKAA VIA MALAPPURAM DISTRICT PIN 679 325. 25. JYOTHI.V.K.,MACHATHETHIL HOUSE NADUVATTAM P.O., KUTTIPPURAM (VIA) MALAPPURAM DISTRICT PIN 679 592. 26. A.R.AMBIKA,"ARADHANA" K.PURAM P.O., TANALUR (VIA) MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN 676 307. 27. KAVITHA MOHAN, M.S.P.FAMILY QUARTERS M.S.P. MALAPPURAM, PIN 676 505. 28. GEETHA.S.,KOKKATTIL HOUSE IRIMBILIYAM PO., VALANCHERY (VIA), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT 679 572. 29. JAYALAKSHMI V.J.,NEDUNGATTETHU THEKKEPURE, KUDASSANADU P.O., PANDALAM VIA ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN 689 512. 30. CHAMBAKULAM HOUSE,C.M.C. 22, CHERTHALA P.O., ALAPPUZHA 688 522. 31. SAJIMOL.V, KEZHAKKEVA HOUSE, AVALOOKKUNNU P.O., SOUTH ARYAD,ALAPPUZHA. 32. REJI.K.D MANAGATTU PARAMBIL,THURAVOOR P.O., CHERTHALA ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT 688 532. 33. AMBIKA.K.,NAMBIYATH PARMABIL P.O.THOTTAKKARA, MAYILUMPURAM, OTTAPALAM, PALAKKAD DISTRICT PIN 679 102. Kss ...4/- ...4.... WPC.NO.4618/2008 Y 34. SANDHIA.G.NAIR,KOCHUKALAPPURAYIDOM, POOTHANUR P.O.,MUNDUR (VIA) PALAKKAD 678 592. 35. REENA.P.,"ANJANAM" KACHERIMEDU, CHITTUR P.O.,PALAKKAD DISTRICT 678 101. 36. SIMI.T.M, THOZHUTHINGAL HOUSE,ELAVAMPADOM P.O., ALATHUR TALUK,PALAKKAD DISTRICT 678 711. 37. SUCHITHRA.V.SWAMINATHAN,DEEPAM POOJA NAGAR, KELLEKULANGARA P.O., PALAKKAD 678 009. 38. SREEDEVI.V PARVATHI NIVAS,VATTEKKAD P.O,KOLLENGODE, PALAKKAD DISTRICT 678 506. 39. JAYASREE.B,WEST HOUSE, NEELICHIRA,CHITTILAMCHERRY P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 40. OMANA.V.M.,KALADY HOUSE PUSHAPAGIRI, K.KUNNU P.O., CHALAKUDY VIA, THRISSUR DISTRICT 680 311. 41. BEENA.K,W/O.C.SATHYADAS, KUNNASSERRY HOUSE, VITHANASSERRY MULLAKKAL, NEMMARA P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT 678 508. 42. PRAVEENA.E, "CHITHIRA" THEKKETHARA, KOLLENGODE 678 506. 43. GEETHA.K.G,KOZHINHIPARAMBIL HOUSE SREEKRISHNAPURAM P.O., PALAKKAD DISTRICT 679 513. 44. PREETHA O.M.,THEKKEDATH HOUSE KARARA P.O., AGALI. 45. SUJATHA.N.N,W/O. BINDESWARA PRASAD SUBIN NIVAS, KADUKKAMKUNNAM, PALAKKAD 678 651. 46. LATHA.K.M,W/O. AJAYAN P.V PANAYIL HOUSE, KOLOTHUMKADAVU VIA KOLOTHUMPILAVU P.O., THRISSUR 680 564. Kss ...5/- ...5.... WPC.NO.4618/2008 Y 47. A.C.PADMAVATHI, OPPATH HOUSE TRIKALOOR P.O., THACHAMPARA. 48. NISHA JERALD,ANUGRAHA, THAYYIL MEETHAL MODAKKALLOOR P.O., KOZHIKODE. 49. INDIRADEVI M.M. MANNAMKULAM HOUSE, ETHANUR P.O., KODUVAYUR VIA PALAKKAD DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.P.K.SURESH KUMAR SRI.SANTHEEP ANKARATH RESPONDENTS: ------------------------- 1. THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICER, MALAPPURAM. 4. THE DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICER, PALAKKAD. 5. KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 6. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, MALAPPURAM. 7. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, PALAKKAD. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. BEJOY CHANDRAN BY SRI. ALEXANDER THOMAS, SC, KPSC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 01/04/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss V.GIRI,J. ------------------------- W.P ( C) No. 4618 of 2008 -------------------------- Dated this the 1st April, 2008 J U D G M E N T Petitioners 1 to 32 are included in the rank list prepared by the Kerala Public Service Commission for the post of Junior Public Health Nurses Gr.II in Malappuram District and petitioners 33 to 49 are included in the list for Palakkad District. They are aggrieved by the non-reporting of the vacancies in the said post. Separate statements have been filed by respondents 3 and 4. In the statement filed by the 3rd respondent, it is pointed out that 45 candidates were appointed to the post of Junior Public Health Nurse in Malappuram district since 6.6.2005. Another 13 vacancies are due to arise consequent upon the promotion to the cadre of Lady Health Inspector and these vacancies will be reported. Submission is recorded. 2. It is made clear that these 13 vacancies should necessarily be reported on or before 26.5.2008 taking note of the fact that rank list is due to expire on 5.6.2008. It is W.P ( C) No. 4618 of 2008 2 further made clear that if any other vacancy arises, the same shall also be reported well before the expiry of the list. In so far as Palakkad district is concerned, in the statement filed by the 4th respondent, it is stated that the existing vacancies have been reported to the Public Service Commission. The last vacancy was reported on 23.2.2008. This submission is also recorded. 3. Petitioners have a grievance that in the districts of Malappuram and Palakkad, distinction was not made by the competent authority as regards the vacancies in the post of Junior Public Health Nurse Gr.II and Gr.I. If there were vacancies in the post of Junior Public Health Nurse Gr.I, promotions must be effected from Junior Public Health Nurse Gr.II and consequent vacancies must be reported to the Public Service Commission. Difficulties which arise in these two districts are highlighted by the learned counsel pointing out that the seniors amongst the Junior Public Health Nurse Gr.I which is a state cadre post seems to be clustered in the districts of Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Therefore, the number of W.P ( C) No. 4618 of 2008 3 vacancies which arose in the post of Junior Public Health Nurse Gr.I consequent upon the promotion to the post of Lady Health Inspectors may be more in those Districts. Such vacancies are treated as vacancies in the post of Junior Public Health Nurse and reported to the Public Service Commission. The net result is that the rank list in those districts have already been exhausted, whereas in the districts of Malappuram and Palakkad, there are still quite a few candidates in the rank list awaiting appointment to the post of Junior Public Health Nurse. I find force in the submission. But taking note of the fact that rank list is due to expire on 5.6.2008 and 25.5.2008, an exercise in the manner now suggested by the learned counsel for the petitioners, even if undertaken may not really improve the case of the petitioners. The said issue is therefore, left open. 4. Petitioners have filed I.A. No.4632 of 2008 seeking a direction to respondents 1 and 2 to pass orders on the applications seeking inter district transfer from Malappuram and Palakkad districts and to report the W.P ( C) No. 4618 of 2008 4 resultant vacancies to the Public Service Commission. 5. I heard learned Government Pleader on this aspect as well. 6. 10% of the vacancies which arise in each district are to be reserved for inter district transfer. If transfers from Malappuram and Palakkad districts are sanctioned, there will be resultant vacancies in these two districts. This is a matter which may be looked into by the 2nd respondent. In the result, there will a direction to the 2nd respondent to consider the plea made by the petitioners for expeditious decision on the applications seeking inter district transfer from Malappuram and Palakkad districts filed by the persons who are working as Junior Public Health Nurse Gr.I. Decision may be taken in this regard on or before 30.4.2008. A copy of the judgment shall be submitted by the petitioners before the 2nd respondent. Resultant vacancies over and above those required to satisfy the claim made by persons who seek a transfer to Malappuram and Palakkad districts by way of inter district transfer shall then be reported to the Public Service W.P ( C) No. 4618 of 2008 5 Commission, before the expiry of the rank list. The writ petition is disposed of subject to the above directions. (V.GIRI, JUDGE) ma W.P ( C) No. 4618 of 2008 6 K.THANKAPPAN,J CRL.A. NO.92 OF 1999 ORDER 25th May, 2007 W.P ( C) No. 4618 of 2008 7 Common issues are raised for consideration in all these writ petitions. Reference is made to the facts in Writ Petition No.4562/2008 for the sake of convenience.