Vinod Mathew vs Kerala State Road Transport Corporation

Raja Vijayaraghavan V, J

The petitioner states that he is working as a Pump Operator in Muvattupuzha Depot of the 1st respondent Corporation. He contends that he joined

the service of the Corporation on 27.05.2008 and since then, he had always been working outside his home depot. The petitioner asserts that he is due

to superannuate on 31.05.2024. According to the petitioner, as per Clause 10.06 of transfer guidelines, which is part of the Bilateral Agreement

entered into in the year 2012, the petitioner is entitled to a transfer to his home Depot. Seeking transfer to his home Depot, he is stated to have

preferred Exhibit-P5 request. It is in the afore circumstances that the petitioner is before this Court seeking directions to 1st respondent for

expeditiously considering Exhibit-P5 and for transferring him to the Thodupuzha Depot.

When the matter came up for consideration, Sri. K.P. Rajeevan, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the limited request

before this Court at this stage is for a direction to the 1st respondent to consider Exhibit-P5 in tune with the transfer guidelines and the Bilateral

Agreement of 2012 in an expeditious manner with due notice. It is submitted that there is a sanctioned post of Pump Operator in the Thodupuzha

Depot.

I have heard Sri. Deepu Thankan, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents, who submits that if the request of the petitioner is for a

consideration of Exhibit-P5 in accordance with the transfer guidelines, there cannot be any impediment.

After having carefully evaluated the contentions raised in this writ petition, the submissions made across the Bar and the facts and circumstances, I

am of the view that this writ petition can be disposed of at the admission stage itself by issuing the following directions:

a) There will be a direction to the 1st respondent to take up, consider and pass appropriate orders on Ext.P5 in tune with the transfer guidelines and the Bilateral

Agreement of 2012 and as per procedure and in adherence to the provisions of law, after affording an opportunity of being heard, either physically or virtually, to the

petitioner herein or his authorised representative.

b) Orders, as directed above, shall be passed expeditiously, in any event, within a period of two months from the date of production of a copy of this judgment.

c) It would be open to the petitioner to produce a copy of the writ petition along with the judgment before the concerned respondent for further action.

This writ petition is disposed of.