K K SURYANARAYANAN Vs. KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are working as Assistant Engineers (Civil) in the service of the respondent Board. They are diploma holders. For promotion to the post of Assistant Executive Engineers, the rules governing the service conditions prescribe a ratio of 3:1 between degree and diploma holders. The petitioners submit that they are fully qualified and entitled to be considered for promotion to the post of Assistant Executive Engineers and that despite sufficient number of vacancies exist to accommodate the diploma holders, the respondents have not done anything to promote them. In fact, the ground urged in the writ petition would show that the respondents have failed to maintain the ratio in the matter of appointment of Assistant Executive Engineers between degree and diploma holders and that has resulted in injustice to the petitioners.

(2.) The first petitioner has filed Ext.P7 representation before the second respondent bringing to the notice of that respondent the above facts and requesting him to promote him. It is asserted that there are 32 vacancies which could be earmarked for diploma holders and that as on today, there is not even a single diploma holder in the cadre of Assistant Executive Engineer though the rules provide a fixed percentage of diploma holders to satisfy the cadre strength.

(3.) I have heard the Legal Laision Officer for the respondent Board.