SUJIT NAIR K.M. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners who were candidates, included in the rank list for appointment to the post of Munsiff- Magistrates pursuant to the notification issued in the year 2016 are aggrieved by the action of the High Court in limiting the appointments to 22 vacancies as against the 35 vacancies notified.

(2.) The High Court of Kerala issued Ext.P2 notification dated 18.02.2016 inviting application for appointment to the post of Munsiff-Magistrates in the Kerala Judicial Service from among qualified candidates. The number of vacancies was notified as 35 with a rider in the notes as follows:

(3.) The method of recruitment was stated to be direct recruitment as well as recruitment by transfer. As per Rule 5 (3) of the Kerala Judicial Service Rules, one out of every four vacancies of Munsiff Magistrates, the 1 st, 2nd and 3rd are to be filled or reserved to be filled by direct recruitment and the 4th by transfer from among Officers included in the feeder categories in Clause (i) to (viii) therein. Simultaneously, Ext.P2(a) notification was issued against two NCA vacancies i.e., one each from Hindu Nadars and one from Scheduled Tribes candidates.