SOPHY V K Vs. DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are Public Health Nurse Gr.II in the Health Department of the Government of Kerala. Prior to joining regular service they had provisional service. Their grievance in this writ petition is that their provisional service has not been reckoned for the purpose of granting them increments. Seeking this relief, they have submitted Exts.P4 and P5 representations before the third respondent. They seek a direction to the third respondent to dispose of Exts.P4 and P5 representations expeditiously.

(2.) I have heard the learned Government Pleader also. The learned Government Pleader points out that although the provisional service of the petitioners were prior to 1.10.1994, for getting their provisional service reckoned, they had to submit applications within the time limit prescribed by the Government, which the petitioners have not done. Therefore, they cannot now claim the benefits on the basis of provisional service, he contends.

(3.) I have considered the rival contentions in detail. Whether, because of non-submission of application within the prescribed time, the petitioners are ineligible for the benefit sought by them, is also a matter, which the third respondent can consider while disposing of Exts.P4 and P5.