JUDGMENT

The petitioner is working as an officer in Airport operations and customer service in Indigo Airlines. The petitioner has been directed by her employer to produce a police clearance certificate. The petitioner has submitted Ext.P4 online application to the first respondent. However, the 1st respondent has not processed the application till date on the ground that the petitioner stands convicted as per Ext.P3 judgment by the Additional Sessions Court-I, Kollam. This Court has in umpteen number of cases held that merely because an applicant is involved in a criminal case, the same does not disentitle an applicant from getting a police clearance certificate. The action of the respondents in refusing to consider the petitioner's application is arbitrary. Hence, the writ petition.

2. Heard; the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned Government Pleader.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner reiterated the contentions in the writ petition. He contended that in view of Section 59 of the Kerala Police Act (in short, 'Act') and the decision of this Court in Sasikumar v. State of Kerala [ 2023 KHC 254 ] , the second respondent is obliged to issue a police cle