IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.SURENDRA MOHAN THURSDAY, THE 8TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2011/17TH AGRAHAYANA 1933 WPC.No. 32703 of 2011 (K) ====================== PETITIONER(S) ============= 1. ANTONY SEBASTIAN, S/O SEBASTIAN, VETTICKAL HOUSE, METHIRI P.O., PIN - 686576, RAMAPURAM, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, (DRILLER, DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI) 2. SHARAFUDEEN M., AGED 47 YEARS, S/O LATE MOIDEEN KUNJU, EDAPPARAMBIL HOUSE, THAZHATHANGADI P.O., KOTTAYAM, - 686005, (DRILLER MECHANIC, DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, ALAPPUZHA) 3. C.I. VARGHESE, AGD 46 YEARS, S/O ITTIYAVIRA THOMAS, CHOORAMPALLIL HOUSE, PUTHUPPALLY P.O., PIN - 686 011, (DRILLER, DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOTTAYAM) 4. GIRISH KUMAR, AGED 36 YEARS, S/O CHELLIKUTTY, N.H. COLONY, ARIMBRA P.O., MALAPPURAM - 673638, (DRILLING ASSISTANT, DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOZHIKODE) 5. AJITHKUMAR G., AGED 35 YEARS, S/O GAJENDRA SINGH, MANGALASSERIL HOUSE, KANJIRACODE, MULAVANA P.O., KOLLAM - 691503, (DRILLING ASSISTANT, DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOLLAM) Contd............2 -:2:- WPC NO. 32703/2011 6 BINU DANIEL, AGED 36 YEARS, S/O P.V. DANIEL, PLAVILA VEEDU, ALAYAMON P.O., ANCHAL, KOLLAM - 691320, (DRILLING ASSISTANT, DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOLLAM) BY ADV.SRI.K.P.JUSTINE (KARIPAT) RESPONDENT(S) ============= 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, KERALA GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695001 2. THE DIRECTOR, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, JALAVINJANA BHAVAN, KOWDIAR P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695008 3. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOZHIKODE - 671114 4. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOLLAM - 691004 5. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, ALAPPUZHA - 688004 6. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI - 685584 7. THE DISTRICT OFFICER, GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT, KOTTAYAM - 686004 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. SHAIJ RAJ K.T. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08-12-2011 , THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: SD WPC NO. 32703/2011 APPENDIX PETITIONER(S) EXHIBITS P1 COPY OF RELEVANT PAGES (PGES 22 AND 23) OF SPECIAL RULES IN THE DEPARTMENT P2 COPY OF ORDER G.O.(MS)NO. 57/90/AD DATED 7.3.1990 ISSUED BY THE AGRICULTURE (FARMS) DEPARTMENT P2(A) COPY OF ORDER G.O.(MS)NO. 105/93/AD DATED 05.05.1993 ISSUED BY AGRICULTURE (FARMS) DEPARTMENT P3 COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE GENERAL SECRETARY, KERALA GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES FEDERATION TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT P3(A) COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED Y THE PRESIDENT, KERALA GROUND WATER DEPARTMENT ENGG. DIPLOMA HOLDER'S ASSOCIATION DATED 18.11.2011 TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT P4 COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE 1ST PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 16.11.2011 P4(A) COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE 2ND PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 16.11.2011 P4(B) COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE 3RD PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 14.11.2011 P4(C) COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE 4TH PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 17.10.2011 P4(D) COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE 5TH PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 28.10.2011 P4(E) COPY OF REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE 6TH PETITIONER BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 31.10.2011 RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS NIL // TRUE COPY // P.A. TO JUDGE SD K.SURENDRA MOHAN, J = = = = = = = = = = = = = WP(C).No.32703 of 2011-K. = = = = = = = = = = = = = Dated this the 8th December, 2011. J U D G M E N T The petitioners are working as Drilling Assistants/Driller/Driller Mechanic in the Ground Water Department. They are all Diploma holders in Mechanical Engineering. The next higher post to which the petitioners can aspire to get promotion are Senior Driller and Master Driller. They complain that no separate quota is fixed for the Diploma holders serving in the department. They are treated equally with the ITI certificate holders for the purpose of promotion. According to them, in other departments separate quota is prescribed for promotion. In the absence of fixation of such quota, the petitioners and similarly placed persons are compelled to stagnate for ten years awaiting further promotion. The petitioners have therefore submitted representations to the second respondent detailing their grievances. They are Exts.P3 WP(C).No.32703/2011-K. 2 series and P4 series. The petitioners seek the issue of appropriate directions for the consideration and disposal of their representations. 2. I have heard the learned Govt.Pleader also. 3. In view of the limited relief that is sought, I am of opinion that this writ petition can be disposed of directing the second respondent to consider the representations of the petitioners. 4. This writ petition is accordingly disposed of directing the second respondent to consider the grievances of the petitioners detailed in their representations, evidenced herein by Exts.P3 series and P4 series and to pass appropriate orders thereon, as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, after affording the petitioners an opportunity of being heard. K.SURENDRA MOHAN, (Judge) Kvs/-