MURALEEDHARAN NAIR Vs. KSRTC

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners in these original petitions, in all 51 in number, were advised by the Public Service Commission for appointment as Work Assistants in the service of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (K.S.R.T.C.) represented by the 1st respondent. They were advised for appointment during the year 1980 and 1981 towards the quota due for non I. T. I. candidates. It would appear that as per a long term industrial settlement the quota for appointment of I. T. I. and non I.T.I. candidates to the category of Work Assistants bad been fixed as 1:1.

(2.) Vacancies in the posts of Work Assistants were notified to the P.S.C. in March 1977 and selection of candidates was made early in the year 1978. The P.S.C. in April 1978 forwarded an advice list for appointment of 1126 candidates towards the quota due to I.T.I. candidates. Some time thereafter the P.S.C. forwarded another advice list for appointment of 1124 non I.T.I. candidates as Work Assistants. All the I.T.I, candidates advised were appointed in due time. Among the 1124 non I.T.I. candidates advised, the K.S.R.T.C. appointed only 762 candidates. The remaining 362 candidates were not appointed. The petitioners are among those 362 candidates who have not been appointed in spite of the advice by the P.S.C.

(3.) K.S.R.T.C. in its counter affidavit has stated, that the 362 non I.T.I. candidates advised could not be appointed for the reason of Ext. R1(b) order of Government dated 24-6-1985 wherein it was stated that no further recruitment of provisional or regular hands will be made except to the extent necessary to fill up vacancies by Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes candidates. Ext. R1(b) provides also for a progressive reduction of the bus-staff ratio initially to 9 and finally to 7.5 before the end of the seventh plan period.