JUDGMENT :

1. Order issued by the Government (produced as Ext.P4 in W.P.(C). 6410 of 2019) exempting the existing employees of Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd. from the qualifications prescribed in Regulations 6 and 7 of the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as `Regulations' for short), purportedly under Regulation 116 of the Regulations is under challenge in these Writ Petitions filed by Sub Engineers/Overseers/Linemen. As the issue involved is common, all these Writ Petitions are disposed of by this common judgment. The parties and documents referred to in this judgment are as described in W.P.(C) No.6410/2019 unless specified otherwise.

2. English translation of the operative portion of Ext.P4 order is the following:

“Government examined the same, taking note of the importance of the Regulations, the right of the employees to enjoy the service benefits and promotional avenues based on long term settlements and found that any alteration of the service conditions would adversely affect the efficiency and smooth functioning of the KSEBL. The experience gained in the electricity wing is sufficie