SUNITHKUMAR S. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The questions raised in these cases relate to the seniority of Police Constables who joined Armed Reserve or Local Police from the Armed Police Battalion. As the subject matter in these cases is connected, it has been decided to dispose of them together.

(2.) We heard Sri.Ranjith Thampan, the learned Senior Counsel, as instructed by Sri.V.M.Krishnakumar, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners in O.P.(KAT)No.68/2024, Sri.Sunilkumar Kuriakose, the learned Senior Government Pleader and also Sri.T.G.Sunil, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents in O.P.(KAT)No.362/2022.

(3.) The petitioners are Police Constables who joined service in the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) during the period 1993 - 2004. Though they were entitled to get a transfer to their respective Armed Reserve on completion of a few years of service, they did not avail of that option initially. Later, based on the repeated representations made by the petitioners, they were transferred to the respective Armed Reserve as per Annexure A2 dtd. 11/5/2010, as a mercy chance. Meanwhile, several juniors of the petitioners had joined the respective Armed Reserve.