C. R. Bijumon vs. The State Of Kerala

GEETHA P.K. & ORS. Petitioner(s) VERSUS TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD & ORS. Respondent(s) FILING O.T. ) (IA No.114765/2020-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.114764/2020-PERMISSION TO FILE PETITION) Date : 18-11-2020 These petitions were called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE L. NAGESWARA RAO HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT GUPTA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAY RASTOGI For the parties Mr. Gopal Shankarnarayan, Sr. Adv Mr. Abhay Singh, Adv. Mr. Lakshmeesh S. Kamath, AOR Dr.K.P.Kylasanatha Pillay, Sr. Adv Mr. A.Venayagam Balan, AOR V.S.Lakshmi, Adv UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Permission to file Special Leave Petition is granted. The petitioners were appointed in the year 2011 as clerical staff. They approached the High Court requesting for Digitally signed by GEETA AHUJA Date: 2020.11.19 18:16:43 IST Reason: Signature Not Verified

regularization of their service. Initially, there was an order of

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 12567/2020

(Arising out of impugned Interim order dated 07-10-2020 in WPC No. 18400/2016 passed by the High Court Of Kerala At Ernakulam)

(FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.107724/2020-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.107725/2020-EXEMPTION FROM

WITH Diary No(s). 23209/2020 (XI-A)

ITEM NO.18 Court 7 (Video Conferencing) SECTION XI-A

status quo pursuant to which they were continued to work.

By the impugned order dated 07.10.2020, the High Court vacated the interim order of status quo on the ground that the regular selection process has been taken up by the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board to the post of LDC/Sub-Group Officer Grade II and the persons selected are awaiting appointment.

Mr. Gopal Shankarnarayan and Dr.K.P.Kylasanatha Pillay, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners are entitled for regularization in accordance with the circular issued by the Government. It is submitted that their appointments were made after going through the selection process. It is further submitted that the Sabrimala season has started and there are number of vacancies that exist and they can be permitted to work.

We are not inclined to interfere with the order passed by the High Court which is interlocutory in nature. However, taking into account the fact that the petitioners have been working since 2011 and their services have been terminated pursuant to the vacation of the interim order, we request the High Court to expedite the hearing of the writ petition and dispose it of at the earliest and not later than three months from today. The petitioners are at liberty to approach the High Court to seek suitable directions to continue in the existing vacancies.

Needless to say that the petitioners are at liberty to approach the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board and make a similar request to continue them in the existing vacancies especially, in view of the ensuing pilgrim season.

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The Special Leave Petitions are disposed of. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

Court Master Court Master

(Geeta Ahuja) (Anand Prakash)