ANEES K Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As these O.P.(KAT)s and Writ Appeal involve a common issue, they are taken up together for consideration and disposed by this common judgment.

(2.) The petitioners/appellants in all these petitions were candidates included in various rank lists published by the Kerala Public Service Commission [hereinafter referred to as the "PSC"] in connection with selection to various posts. The validity of the rank lists was to expire on various dates between 5/2/2021 and 3/8/2021. Taking note of the COVID pandemic situation that prevailed in the State, that effectively disabled the PSC from holding examination for selection of candidates to various posts, the PSC, by a notification dtd. 5/2/2021, extended the validity period of the various rank lists that were to expire between 5/2/2021 and 3/8/2021, up til 4/8/2021.

(3.) In W.A.No.401/2022, the judgment dtd. 4/3/2022 of a learned Single Judge in W.P.(C).No.15071/2021 is impugned. By the said judgment, the learned Single Judge, relying on the same order of the KAT that dismissed the O.A.s of the petitioners in the O.P.(KAT)s referred above, and following the observations of the Division Bench in W.A.No.1865/2017 found that there was no ground made out for granting the declaration sought by the appellants for keeping the rank list in question valid for a further period of 12 months from 4/8/2021.