P CHITHARANJA MENON Vs. A BALAKRISHNAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is by special leave granted by this Court against the judgment of the High Court of Kerala in O.P. No. 5566 of 1972 by respondents 4 to 8 and 13 before the High Court.

(2.) The respondents herein filed the writ petition for the issue of the Writ of Certiorari calling for records relating to Ex. P-10, GO Rt. No. 3386/69 DD dated 23-10-1969, Ex. P12 and Ex. P15 and quash the same and to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 and 2 who are the State of Kerala represented by the Chief Secretary Government of Kerala, and the Director of Panchayats to forbear the implementation of Ex. P12 and further direct them to implement Ex. P-8 grading list or in the alternative to issue a writ of mandamus directing the State of Kerala to consider and dispose of Ex. P. 13 and similar representations by respondents 3 and 4 on merits. It was also prayed that a writ of certiorari quashing Ex. P17 in so far as it related to the petitioners and respondents 3 to 18 in the writ petition be issued and also to issue a writ of mandamus compelling the respondents 1 and 2 State of Kerala and the Director of Panchayats to assign the writ petitioners the appropriate ranks in the cadre of Executive Officers in the Panchayat Services. The High Court allowed the writ petition and set aside the list Ex. P17 the order Ex. P12 and the order Ex. P15 dismissing the appeal petition Ex. P14 and directed that a fresh list be prepared in accordance with the principles laid down in Ex. P16 in the light of the judgment of the High Court Aggrieved by the decision of the High Court the appellants have preferred this appeal.

(3.) The writ petition was contested by 18 respondents. Respondents 3 to 10 were Panchayat executive officers of the Malabar area functioning under the Madras Village Panchayat Act, 1951, on 31st December, 1961. Respondents 11 to 18 were Panchayat Officers functioning as such on 31st December, 1961 under the Travancore-Cochin Panchayats Act, 1950. The Keraln Panchayats Act 1960, Act 32 of 1960, received the assent of the Governor on 8th December, 1960, and was published in Kerala Gazette Extraordinary No. 119 dated 9th December 1960. It is common ground that the respondents became Government servants on and from 1st January, 1962. On 15th May, 1961, under Ex. P1 the Government passed an order that all Panchayat Officers/executive officers who continue to hold their appointments at the time when the Act came into force will be absorbed as Panchayat executive officers in the new Panchayats. The same order provided that the staff of the Malbar District Board shall be absorbed as Panchayat executive officers in suitable grades according to their qualifications, grades and suitability.