UNNI Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition is preferred against the order dtd. 24/02/2021 in O.A.No.2212 of 2015 of the Kerala Administrative Tribunal.

(2.) The petitioners are working as Joint Block Development Officers. They challenge Annexure A7 final seniority list of the Village Extension Officers (VEO), which was published on 5/5/2014, alleging that it was prepared without considering their objection to the provisional seniority list and without removing the anomalies in the Kerala General Subordinate Service Posts in the Rural Development Department (Amendment) Special Rules, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Special Rules, 2008'). It is stated that several juniors were placed above the petitioners in Anneuxre A7, as the same was prepared on the basis of the date of promotion to the feeder category instead of their service seniority, based on the date of appointment to the entry post viz. VEO/Lady VEO Grade II.

(3.) The petitioners were advised by the PSC on 28/1/1991 and 3/5/1991, respectively as VEO (Trainee). After the training, they were appointed as VEOs Grade II, in 1992. They were promoted as Joint Block Development Officers on 19/11/2013 and 6/1/2014, respectively. In the meanwhile, the Government amended the Special Rules, and thereby the posts of VEO/Lady VEO were integrated up to the post of Joint Block Development Officer.