KUNJU KUNJU Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) O. P. No. 30458 and 34803 of 2001, 8725 and 34586 of 2002 and W. A. No. 256 and 277 of 2002 can be conveniently disposed of together as common questions of law and fact arise in them and they all pertain to the selection of Industries Extension Officers in the Department of Industries and Commerce.

(2.) Recruitment to the posts of Industries Extension Officers was not governed by any statutory rules. The State Government by its order dated August 23, 1962 (hereinafter referred to as 'the G. O.') in consultation with the Kerala Public Service Commission (for short 'the Commission') prescribed the following method of appointment and qualifications for the said post:

(3.) By notification dated 26th May 1992, the Commission invited applications for 33 posts of Industries Extension Officers to be filled up by direct recruitment and for 11 posts to be filled by transfer from Village Extension Officers (previously known as Gram Sevaks). The qualifications prescribed in the notification were the same as prescribed in the G. O. Petitioners in O. P. No. 34803 of 2001 and 34586 of 2002 applied in response to the advertisement for posts meant for direct recruits and petitioners in O. P. No. 30458 of 2001 submitted their applications for posts to be filled by transfer. The Commission also made a special recruitment for scheduled tribe candidates and published a notice on 27th October, 1998 inviting applications for direct recruitment for 7 posts meant for them. The petitioners in O. P. No. 8725 of 2002 who belong to scheduled tribes, applied in response to this notification.