Rajalekshmi L. and others v. State of Kerala and others
Case Details & Bench
- Court
- High Court of Kerala
- Hon'ble Judges
- Devan Ramachandran
- Judgment Date
- 2021-03-02
- Court Decision / Holding
- Writ petition dismissed. The court held that the rank list expired and could not be used to fill vacancies in Corporations; district-wise rank lists were meant for departments and not for government-controlled Companies; the State and PSC could not be compelled to appoint from the expired list. The court cited Vimala Kumari v. State (1994 (2) KLT 47) to support the proposition that expired lists cannot form the basis for appointments.
- Final Disposition
- Writ petition dismissed.
Parties to the Case
Appellants / Petitioners
- RAJALEKSHMI L.
- JAYAMOL RAJAMANI
- DEEPA K.C.
- VIJI C.V.
- SHIJI V.P.
- VINU V.
- AMB I KA C.
- SMITHA A.R.
- REKHA MOHANAN P.
- LEKSHMI S.
- MERCY JOSEPH
- SANDHYA V.
- REJANI T.
- KAVITHA JAISON
- PREETHI P.V.
- S0UMYA K.S.
- MAYA E.S.
- JULIE P.G.
- JENSON B0SE
- SUJEESH S.
- AMMU C.
- ASWATHY M.H.
- RAKHI P.R.
- ROSHAN THOMAS M.A.
- DEEPA S.
- SACHU P.S.
- SREEJA KUMARI J.
- BINDUMOL K.
- REMYA M.V.
- VASANTHI T.
- JOBIN JOSE
- MAYACHANDRAN
- RAMLABI N.V.
- SAHLATH T.
- SHEEBA A.
- GISHA K.
Respondents
- STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001
- KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, THULASI HILLS, PATTOM PALACE P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 004
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE PHARMACY COUNCIL, M N V G ADIYODI MEMORIAL PHARMACY BHAVAN RED CROSS ROAD, NEAR GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL JUNCTION, PATTOOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 035
- THE DIRECTOR, KERALA STATE REMOTE SENSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE, 1ST FLOOR, NEAR LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, VIKAS BHAVAN, UNIVERSITY OF KERALA SENATE HOUSE CAMPUS, PMG, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 033
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM AND PRIYADARSINI PLANETHARIUM, PRIYADARSHINI PLANETARIUM ROAD, JUNCTION, NEAR PMG, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 033
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE SPORTS COUNCIL, YMCA RD., STATUE, PALAYAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 001
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE VETERINARY COUNCIL, HARVIPURAM COLONY, PEROORKADA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 005
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, 5TH FLOOR, TRANS TOWERS, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - THENMALA ROAD, VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 014
- THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KUDUMBASHREE STATE MISSION, 2ND FLOOR, TRIDA REHABILITATION BUILDING, MEDICAL COLLEGE P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 011, KERALA
- THE SECRETARY, KUMARAN ASAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CULTURE, THONNAKKAL P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 317
- THE DIRECTOR, LBS CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, EXTRA POLICE RD., NANDAVANAM, PALAYAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 003
- THE SECRETARY, MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT MISSION, SWARAJ BHAVAN, 5TH FLOOR, NANTHENCODE, KOWDIAR, THIRUVANANTHURAM - 695 003
- THE DIRECTOR, MALABAR BOTANICAL GARDEN, PB.NO.1, GA COLLEGE POST, POKKUNNU PANDIRAKAVU ROAD NEAR GOORUVAYURAPPAN COLLEGE, POKKUNNU, KOZHIKODE, KERALA - 673 014
- THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL COIR RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (NCRMI), KUDAPPANAKUNNU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 043
- THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL GAMES SECRETARIAT, CHANDRASEKHARAN NAIR STADIUM, PALAYAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 033
- THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SPEEDH AND HEARING NISH RD., AA K K U L A M, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 017
- THE SECRETARY, NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME, UNIT 470, NAIR SAMAJAM HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, MANNAR, KERALA, PIN - 689 622
- THE SECRETARY/OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND RESEARCH CENTRE, SASTHRA BHAVAN, PATTOM PALACE, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHURAM - 695 004
- THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NORKA-ROOTS NORKA CENTRE, THYCAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 014
- THE SECRETARY/OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, RAJEEV GANDHI ACADEMY FOR AVIATION TECHNOLOGY, TRIVANDRUM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CHACKAI ITI JN, BEACH P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 007
- THE DIRECTOR, RAJIV GANDHI CENTRE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY, MELARANNOOR ROAD BEHIND CENTRAL JAIL POOJAPURA, THYCAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 014
- THE DIRECTOR, REGIONAL CANCER CENTRE, MEDICAL COLLEGE KUMARAPURAM RD., MEDICAL COLLEGE CAMPUS, CHALAKKUZHI, THIRUVANANTHURAM - 695 011
- THE DIRECTOR, REGIONAL INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, PALAYAM - AIRPORT ROAD, JAI VIHAR, KUNNUKUZHY, THIRUVANANTHURAM - 695 035
- THE DIRECTOR, SOPHISTICATED TEST AND INSTRUMENTATION CENTRE, COCHIN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, COCHIN - 682 022, KERALA
- THE DIRECTOR, STATE AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT AND EXTENSION TRAINING INSTITUTE KARSHGAKA BHAVANAM, VELI VENPALAVATTOM RD., VENPALAVATTOM, THIRUVANANTHURAM - 695 029
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE COOPERATIVE UNION OOTTUKUZHYVANROSS RD., OOTTUKUZHY, THYCAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIROMENT SASTHRA BHAVAN,PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 004, KERALA
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE H AJ I COMMITTEE, HAJI HOUSE, CALICUT AIRPORT (P.O.), MALAPPURAM - 673 647
- THE MEMBER SECRETARY, KERALA STATE HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIL, PMG, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM CAMPUS, VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 033
- KERALA STATE INSTITUTE OF CHILDRENS LITERATURE GOVERNMENT SANSKRIT COLLEGE CAMPUS, PALAYAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 034
- THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, KERALA STATE INSTITUTE OF DESIGN, KSID ROAD GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, CHANDANATHOPE, KERALA - 691 014
- KERALA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY, MARINE DRIVE, KOCHI, KERALA - 682 031
- THE SECRETARY, KERALA STATE LIBRARY COUNCIL, ETN 43, TC 24/1962, K.ANIRUDHAN ROAD, VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 014
- THE DIRECTOR, KERALA STATE LITERACY MISSION AUTHORITY, TC 27/1461, KAMMATTOM LANE, CONVENT ROAD, VANCHIYOOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA - 695 035
- THE DIRECTOR, KERALA STATE NIRMITHI KENDRA, REGIONAL NIRMITHI KENDRA, CPT CAMPUS, VATTIYOORKAVU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 013
Legal Representation & Advocates
Counsels for Petitioners
- • Sri.T.C.Govinda Swamy
- • Smt.Kala T.Gopi
Counsels for Respondents
- • Smt Shameena Salahudheen
- • Sri Athul Shaji
- • Sri K.B.Pradeep
- • Sri Elvin Peter P.J.
- • Sri M.K.Chandra Mohandas
- • Smt Latha Anand
- • Sri A.Sudhi Vasudevan (Sr.)
- • Sri Jose Jones Joseph, SC
- • Sri K.Jaju Babu (Sr.)
- • Smt M.U.Vijayalakshmi, SC
- • Sri M.Sasindran, SC
- • Adv. Sri Dinesh Mathew J.Muricken
Case Synopsis & Summary
The writ petition challenges the Kerala Public Service Commission’s district-wise rank lists prepared for appointment to the post of Confidential Assistants (Gr. II) in various Government Departments, seeking to fill existing vacancies caused by deputation to government-controlled Companies and Corporations from the 2016 district-wise rank list. The petitioners argued that the rank list, though expired, should permit appointments from it, citing State of Haryana v. Mahabir Prasad Sharma (AIR 1994 SC 1804) to justify recruitment from an outdated list. The PSC contended that the district-wise ranking was not designed for Corporations (which operate on state-wise lists) and that the rank list had already expired, making further appointments from it impossible. The LBS Centre for Science and Technology argued no prayer lay against them since they did not requisition the PSC to prepare the list. The learned judge observed that the rank list has indeed expired and, given district-wise implementation for departments and not for Corporations, it cannot be used for filling vacancies in the latter. Citing Vimala Kumari v. State (1994 (2) KLT 47), the court noted that the expired list cannot be used to grant appointments. Consequently, the petition was dismissed. The judgment emphasizes that appointments must follow valid, current rank lists appropriate to the specific recruitment bodies and sectors involved.
Submissions & Arguments
Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners
The petitioners contend that they were included in a district-wise rank list prepared by the Kerala Public Service Commission for the post of Confidential Assistants (Gr. II) and that vacancies arising from deputations to government-controlled Companies and Corporations should be filled strictly from that list. They argue that despite an expiry of the list, appointments should be permissible in light of judicial precedents such as State of Haryana v. Mahabir Prasad Sharma. They also emphasize that the rank list was district-wise and not intended for Corporations, hence their entitlement to be considered. They rely on prior judgments and seek a declaration directing appointment from the question’s rank list.
Contentions of Respondents
The PSC counsel submits that appointments cannot be drawn from an expired rank list and that district-wise rank lists were designed for government departments, not for Corporations which require state-wise lists; He notes that the rank list has expired and cannot be revived. The LBS Centre for Science and Technology contends it bears no responsibility for preparing (or requisitioning) lists for vacancies in its client organizations; The court is urged to dismiss the petition for lack of a viable source list and for want of a valid requisition to create a new list.
Cited Precedents (2)
| Case Name | Citation | Treatment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Haryana & others v. Mahabir Prasad Sharma and others | AIR 1994 SC 1804 | Distinguished | The court distinguished the cited Supreme Court decision on facts and held it inapplicable to the present case because the rank list in question was district-wise and subject to expiry, thereby limiting its applicability. |
| Vimala Kumari v. State | 1994 (2) KLT 47 | Positive | The court referenced Vimala Kumari to support the proposition that an expired rank list cannot be used to justify appointments, aligning with the petitioner’s lack of a current valid list. |
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