JIJI VIJAYAN Vs. K P S C

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners who are applicants to the post of Lecturer in various subjects in the Collegiate Education Department, are aggrieved by the fixation of the date 01/01/2007 in Ext. P1 notification for calculation of age for enabling the candidates to submit application to the post in question. Accordingly, they are seeking for a direction to accept the applications by calculating their age with reference to 01/01/2008. The circumstances leading to the filing of the writ petition are the following:

(2.) All the petitioners are Post Graduates having passed MA (Economics) Degree Examination in May, 2007. Ext. P1 notification is dated 12/12/2007. As per Ext. P1, the candidates should have completed 22 years of age and should not exceed 35 years of age on 01/01/2007. All the petitioners are having UGC and NET qualifications also. Exts. P2 to P17 are produced in support of the acquisition of qualifications by the petitioners. The petitioners undertook the examination for MA Degree in May, 2007. The last date prescribed for submission of application was 16/01/2008. It is therefore contended that the prescription of cut off date for calculation of age as 01/012007 is arbitrary. It is further pointed out that among them, petitioners 1, 3 and 4 are First, Second and Third Rank holders respectively in MA Economics Degree Examination and if opportunity is denied by way of a notification like Ext. P1, the petitioners who are having brilliant academic background, will not get due consideration.

(3.) On behalf of the Public Service Commission, a detailed counter affidavit has been filed supporting the notification. It is pointed out that the same is in tune with the Special Rules in force. It is also in tune with the Public Services (Date for determination of age for eligibility for appointment) Rules, 1977.