IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE V.GIRI WEDNESDAY, THE 20TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 1ST PHALGUNA 1929 WP(C).No. 21036 of 2007(D) -------------------------------------- PETITIONERS: -------------------- 1. PRAMEELA MATHEW, D/O. MATHEW, AGED 54 YRS, ALATHARA HOUSE, KODANADU, CHERTHALA TALUK, WORKING AS HEAD NURSE, GOVT. MAHARAJAS HOSPITAL, KARUVELIPPADY, KOCHI. 2. LEELA P.P., HEAD NURSE, GOVT. MAHARAJAS HOSPITAL, KARUVELIPPADY, KOCHI. 3. RADHADEVI S., STAFF NURSE, GOVT. MAHARAJAS HOSPITAL, KARUVELIPPADY, KOCHI. 4. PRESTHEENA SEEMA, STAFF NURSE, GOVT. MAHARAJAS HOSPITAL, KARUVELIPPADY, KOCHI. BY ADV. SRI.C.A.CHACKO SRI.JOSEPH EDAKKATT SMT.C.M.CHARISMA SRI.N.A.SHAFEEK RESPONDENTS: ---------------------- 1. THE STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT, GOVT. MAHARAJAS HOSPITAL, KARUVELIPPADY, KOCHI. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. P.NANDAKUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 20/02/2008,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C) NO: 21036/2007 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS EXT.P1. COPY OF THE DATED 2/3/00 IN OP NO. 31611/99 AND 1/00 OF THIS COURT. EXT.P2. COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DT. 24/6/07 MADE BEFORE THE R3. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS NIL. True copy tga V.GIRI,J. ------------------------- W.P ( C) No. 21036 of 2007 -------------------------- Dated this the 20th February, 2008 J U D G M E N T Petitioners approach this Court with a grievance that Government is not acting with sufficient expedition in introducing three shift duty system for the Nurses in the Government Maharajas Hospital, Karuvelipady, in Kochi. In the counter affidavit filed by the Government, it is stated as follows: “It is submitted that as per the directions of the Hon'ble High Court, Government have decided to implement three shift duty system in all Taluk Hospitals, with the existing staffs. It is a fact that the system cannot be effectively implemented with the existing staffs. Creation of additional post is necessary for which huge financial commitment has to be borne by the Government. With the available resources of the Government , this can only be done in a phased manner. The working hours of the Nursing Staffs have been considerably reduced and so the efficiency of the staffs has improved a lot with the introduction of the system. No such difficulty is experiencing in the functioning of the hospital as alleged by the petitioner, grievances of the petitioners will be redressed in due course.” W.P ( C) No. 21036 of 2007 2 The stand taken in the counter affidavit is recorded. But the Government is yet to take a decision to implement three shift duty system in all Taluk Hospitals. It is up to the petitioners to move the Government to act with as much expedition as possible. Subject to the above, the writ petition is disposed of. (V.GIRI, JUDGE) ma W.P ( C) No. 21036 of 2007 2 K.THANKAPPAN,J CRL.A. NO.92 OF 1999 ORDER 25th May, 2007