BINEESH P. Vs. KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners in O.P.(KAT)No.149/2014 are the applicants in T.A.No.4339/2012, before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, Thiruvananthapuram. Similarly, the petitioners in O.P.(KAT)Nos. 150/2014, 151/2014, 152/2014 and 153/2014 are the applicants in T.A.Nos.5267/2012, 4350/2012, 3395/2012 and 5231/2012, respectively, before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. The petitioner in O.P.(KAT)No.242/2014 is the applicant in O.A.(Ekm) No.177/2014, before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. O.P.(KAT)Nos. 149, 150, 151, 152 & 153 of 2014:-

(2.) The petitioners in O.P.(KAT)Nos.149/2014, 150/2014, 151/2014, 152/2014 and 153/2014 are candidates who applied for direct recruitment to the post of Driver Grade II (LDV) in various departments, pursuant to a notification dated 14/2/2007 issued by the Kerala Public Service Commission (Category No.32/2007). The petitioners in O.P.(KAT)Nos.149/2014 and 151/2014 applied for selection in Kozhikode district and those in O.P.(KAT)Nos.150/2014, 152/2014 and 153/2014 applied for selection in Ernakulam district. The petitioners who appeared for OMR type test were included in the unified short list published by the Public Service Commission of the candidates found eligible for practical test. As they failed in Road Test, they were not included in the ranked list. Challenging the ranked list for direct recruitment to the post of Driver Grade II (LDV) for Kozhikode district/Ernakulam district and seeking inclusion in the said ranked list on the basis of the total marks obtained in the OMR type test and Road Test, the petitioners moved this Court in W.P.(C) No.3859/2011 and connected cases. On the formation of the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, those Writ Petitions were transferred to the Tribunal and re-numbered as T.A.No.4339/2012 and connected cases. The Tribunal by a common order dated 21/2/2014 dismissed those Transfer Applications and it is aggrieved by the said order, the petitioners are before us in these Original Petitions.

(3.) We heard the arguments of the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners in these Original Petitions and the learned Standing Counsel for the Kerala Public Service Commission. Since common issues are raised in all these Original Petitions, we are proceeding to dispose of all of them by this common judgment. For the sake of convenience, the exhibits are referred to as obtaining in O.P.(KAT) No.149/2014, arising out of T.A.No.4339/2012.