ABDUL VAHAB M. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are aggrieved by Ext P1 general order of transfer issued by the third respondent, whereby the petitioners stand transferred from the Head Office of the second respondent - the Kerala Water Authority ( in short "Authority") to different Districts in the State.

(2.) According to the petitioners, they are working at the Head office of the Authority, holding different posts. The petitioners are residing in Thiruvananthapuram along with their families. Transferring the petitioners from Thiruvananthapuram to other Districts, would cause severe hardship and damage to the petitioners, especially when the Country is midst of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Now the disease is spreading like wild fire, and there are several restrictions in place, with the Authorities directing the public to stay in their houses. Public transport has been impaired and private transport is restricted for essential purpose. During this period, the transfer and posting of the petitioners to various parts of the State, would cause severe difficulties to the petitioners, including the chances of them getting infected with the virus. The petitioners are ready to abide by Ext P1 transfer order, after the pandemic subsides or gets controlled. In the above compelling circumstances, the petitioners have submitted Exts P2 to P24 representations before the third respondent. The petitioners seek for a direction to the third respondent to consider and dispose of Exts P2 to P24 representations within a time frame and until such time Ext P1 order may be kept in abeyance.

(3.) Heard Sri.Sasith Panicker, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Sri.Bijoy Chandran, the learned Senior Government Pleader appearing for the first respondent and Smt.Mary Benjamin, the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents 2 and 3.