JUDGMENT :

P.Krishna Kumar, J.

The candidates included in the rank list for appointment in the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) Junior Time Scale (Trainees) approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal inter alia challenging Annexure A3 Government Order dated 06.02.2021 by which the cadre strength of KAS Officers (Junior Time Scale) was fixed at 105 by the Government. According to the candidates, the fixation of the cadre strength at 105 is in violation of the Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) Rules, 2018 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the KAS Rules’) and the actual figure is much higher.

2. By the impugned common order dated 13.10.2013, the Tribunal directed the Government to redetermine the cadre strength as on 01.10.2022 in accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 4 read with Rule 18 of the KAS Rules. The Tribunal further directed that the Government shall take steps to make appointments for the remaining vacancies as against the vacancies already reported to the Public Service Commission (PSC) pursuant to the interim direction of the Tribunal. Later, the Tribunal disposed of certain other similar applications based on the said impugned order. The above original petitio