SUBINA S Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Can the Kerala Public Service Commission ('the PSC' for short) be compelled by the issue of a writ of mandamus to extend the period of validity of a ranked list?

(2.) The enabling provision can be found in the fifth proviso to Rule 13 of the Kerala Public Service Commission Rules of Procedure ('the Rules' for short) which is extracted below for easy reference:

(3.) The PSC by its decision dated 8.4.2019 rejected the request of the petitioners for extending the validity of the ranked list for appointment to the post of Lecturer in Economics which was to expire on 30.5.2019. The said decision is challenged by the petitioners (who find a place in the ranked list) pointing out that the power under the fifth proviso to Rule 13 of the Rules has not been exercised. The grounds highlighted by the petitioners are: