2025:KER:30380 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.NAGARESH MONDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF APRIL 2025 / 17TH CHAITHRA, 1947 WP(C) NO. 14317 OF 2025 PETITIONERS: 1 THE PRESIDENT (FR.DOMINIC AYALOOPARAMBIL), CONSORTIUM OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL, MANAGEMENT IN KERALA AGED 55 YEARS S/O EAPEN K PASTORAL ORIENTATION CENTRE, PALARIVATTOM, KOCHI–682 025 (RESIDING AT PASTORAL CENTRE, KANJIRAPALLY, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT), PIN - 686507 2 THE SECRETARY (FR.ANTONEY GEORGE PATTAPARAMBIL) AGED 51 YEARS S/O GEORGE P.C CONSORTIUM OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL, MANAGEMENT IN KERALA PASTORAL ORIENTATION CENTRE, PALARIVATTOM, KOCHI–682 025 (RESIDING AT VIJAYAPURAM BISHOP’S HOUSE, P.B.NO.82, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT), PIN - 686001 BY ADVS. V.A.MUHAMMED M.SAJJAD RESPONDENTS: 1 THE STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 2 SECRETARIAT ANNEX II, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001 2 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION (HIGHER SECONDARY) NEW BUILDING, ULLOOR LANE, JAGATHY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014 3 THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION (VOCATIONAL HIGHER SECONDARY) JAGATHY,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014 4 THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION THAVAKKARA, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670002 5 THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION CALICUT, PIN - 673001 6 THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION CIVIL STATION ROAD, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN - 676505 7 THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION OFFICE THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682011 8 THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION NEAR PULIMOODU JN, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT, PIN - 686001 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 3 9 THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION CHENGANNUR, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN - 689121 10 THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695033 11 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION VIDYANAGAR PO, KASARGODE DISTRICT, PIN - 671123 12 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PUZHATHI HOUSING COLONY, KANNUR DISTRICT, PIN - 670002 13 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION KALPETTA, WAYANAD DISTRICT, PIN - 673122 14 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION MANANCHIRA, KOZHIKODE DISTRICT, PIN - 673001 15 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION DOWN HILL, MALAPPURAM DISTRICT, PIN - 676505 16 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AYYANTHOLE, THRISSUR DISTRICT, PIN - 680003 17 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION THODUPUZHA, IDUKKI DISTRICT, PIN - 685584 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 4 18 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 682030 19 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PALACE RD, KOTTAYAM, DISTRICT, PIN - 686001 20 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION KODIVEEDU, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT, PIN - 688001 21 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION THIRUVALLA PATHANAMTHITTA DISTRICT, PIN - 689101 22 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION THEVALLY, KOLLAM DISTRICT, PIN - 691009 23 THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PADMAVILASOM ROAD, FORT P.O, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695023 SRI. P.SANTHOSH KUMAR,SPL.GOVERNMENT PLEADER THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 07.04.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 5 JUDGMENT Dated this the 7th day of April, 2025 The petitioners are the President and Secretary of Consortium of Catholic School, Management in Kerala 2. The Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 requires 4% reservation in appointments for differently abled hands. It is made applicable to the Aided Schools as well. The turn of appointments is also prescribed as 1, 26, 51, and 76 for differently abled hands. In compliance, the petitioners have set apart posts and vacancies to receive. 3. The petitioners have complied with the requirements covered by Exts.P1 and P2. Employment Exchange concerned is busy with the processing of candidates for the posts set apart for differently abled hand. Other appointments effected by the petitioners against regular posts under the 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 6 Management are not processed by the Educational Officer concerned for want of physical indictment of qualified differently abled hands for the posts reported for differently abled hands. 4. In similar circumstances, the NSS Management moved the Apex Court and got Ext.P3 order dated 04.03.2025. Consequently, the Government issued Ext.P4 order dated 17.03.2025. But it would appear that Ext.P4 is applicable only in respect of the Schools under the NSS Management. The benefits flowing from Exts.P3 and P4 ought to have been made applicable in respect of the appointments under the Managements that are similarly situated. 5. In the light of the judgments in Central Finance and Investments and another v. Secretary, Kothamangalam Municipality and others [2021 (6) KHC 59] and Somukuttan Nair v. State of Kerala [1997 KHC 114], the benefits flowing from Exts.P3 and P4 cannot be denied to 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 7 the petitioners. In such circumstances, the petitioners filed Ext.P8 representation before the 1st respondent, which is pending consideration, contend the petitioners. 6. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Special Government Pleader representing the respondents. 7. I find that in similar circumstances, the NSS Management approached the Hon’ble Apex Court and the Apex Court has passed order dated 04.03.2025. The Government is taking a stand that the order will apply only to the parties to the SLP before the Hon’ble Apex Court. The petitioners would contend that claims of persons like the petitioners, who did not approach the Court for redressal of their grievances, there is absolutely no justification for the Government to deny consequential benefits to similarly situated persons. 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 8 8. Be that as it may, at this stage, I do not deem it necessary to adjudicate the issue as the petitioners have submitted Ext.P8 representation before the Government. It would be sufficient if the Government considers Ext.P8 representation in the light of the directions contained in Exts.P3 and P4. The writ petition is therefore disposed of directing the 1st respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P8 representation submitted by the petitioners within a period of four months in the light of Exts.P3 and P4. Sd/- N.NAGARESH JUDGE hmh 2025:KER:30380 WP(C) NO.14317 of 2025 9 APPENDIX OF WP(C) 14317/2025 PETITIONERS’ EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(P).NO.12/2019/SJD DATED 31.10.2019 Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O. (MS.).NO.111/2022/GEDN DATED 25.06.2022 Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN CIVIL APPEAL NO.SLP NO.11373/2024 DATED 04.03.2025 Exhibit P4 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O.(MS.) NO.43/2025/GEDN DATED 17.03.2025 Exhibit P5 TRUE COPY OF THE DECISION REPORTED IN 2021 (6) KHC 59 (CENTRAL FINANCE & INVESTMENTS AND ANOTHER V. SECRETARY, KOTHAMANGNALAM MUNICIPALITY AND OTHERS) DATED 01.10.2021 Exhibit P6 TRUE COPY OF THE DECISION REPORTED IN 1997 KHC 114 (SOMUKUTTAN NAIR V. STATE OF KERALA) DATED 18.02.1997 Exhibit P7 TRUE COPY OF THE G.O. (MS.)NO.101/2023/GEDN DATED 18.07.2023 Exhibit P8 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT DATED 27.03.2025