The Kerala High Court on Friday dismissed a petition to entitle persons belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with adequate reservations in Government Pleader posts in the High Court, under the Kerala Public Service Act.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran held that it was impossible to direct the state to appoint persons belonging to any community for reservation in Government Pleader posts, in the context of there being no rules in this regard.
The petitioner, Advocate K J George, submitted that he was included in the Government Pleader panel sent by the Advocate General, but was not appointed by the government.
Appearing for the state, Government Pleader Roshan D Alexander submitted that provisions for reservation were not provided in the appointment of Government Pleaders.
In a panel forwarded by the Advocate General, 110 advocates were appointed as Government Pleaders in the High Court.
The panel included 21 SC/ST members, and a total of six members were appointed.
The court upheld the state’s contention that while appointing pleaders, the government had exercised its discretion and appointed persons who were deemed trustworthy and competent.