KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION Vs. LEELAMANI P. K.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners herein are the respondents No.2 and 3 in O.A No.623/2018 on the file of Kerala Administrative Tribunal, (hereinafter mentioned as Tribunal). This petition is filed challenging the order dated 3.7.2019 in O.A. 623/2018 of the Tribunal. The respondent Nos.1 and 2 herein filed the above original Application with following prayers:

(2.) The case of the applicants before the Tribunal is that, they applied for the post of HSA(Social studies) in response to a notification published by the Public Service Commission dated 31.12.2012 which is produced as Annexure A6 in the Original Application. According to the applicants, they are fully qualified for the post of HSA(Social Studies) as per the notification. The applicants before the Tribunal are graduates in Economics with Foreign Trade, awarded by the University of Calicut. As per the notification issued by the Public Service Commission which is produced as Annexure A6 before the Tribunal, the qualification prescribed is a degree in the concerned subject and B.Ed/BT/LT in the concerned subject conferred or recognized by the Universities in Kerala. Concerned subjects are specified in Note 3(a) of Clause 7 of the notification; one of which is Economics.

(3.) The applicants are graduates in Economics with Foreign Trade. Therefore, by Annexure A9 and A10 letters produced before the Tribunal, the Public Service Commission asked the applicants to produce an order of the Government which shows that the degree of B.A (Economic with Foreign Trade) is an acceptable qualification. It is also stated that, on failure to produce the same, they may not be allowed to participate in the interview. The applicants approached the Government and the Government addressed the University to furnish a report in the matter. The applicants approached the Tribunal apprehending that they would not be allowed to participate in the interview. The Tribunal as per order dated 25.4.2018 directed the Public Service Commission to participate the applicants before the Tribunal, in the selection process, subject to further orders from the Tribunal and they were allowed to participate in the interview. But when the rank list was published on 3.10.2018, the results of the applicants were withheld due to the pendency of the Original Application.