JAYAKUTTY.A Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As all these writ petitions involve a common issue, they are taken up for consideration together and disposed by this common judgment.

(2.) The petitioners in these writ petitions are persons, who have been engaged on daily wage basis, as drivers, peons etc. under the respondent Panchayats. They have been engaged as such, for periods of varying lengths. In the writ petitions, it is their case that while they have been continuously engaged for the past many years, the respondent Panchayats have, now, by the decisions impugned in the writ petitions, decided to terminate their engagement and engage other persons, on daily wages, in their place. The petitioners contend that, by virtue of their long and continuous engagement, they have a right to be considered for regularisation, in service, or, in the alternative, a right to continued engagement till regular hands are appointed by the respondent Panchayats to the posts in question. It is also contended that the impugned decisions of the respondent Panchayats are vitiated by mala fides, since the decisions are politically motivated and designed to offer engagement to persons having particular political affiliations.

(3.) I have heard the respective counsel for the petitioners in all these writ petitions and the respective Standing counsel for the respondent Panchayats in these writ petitions. I have also heard the learned Government Pleader for the official respondents.