JUDGMENT

Babu Mathew P. Joseph, J.

The short question that arises for consideration in this writ petition is as to whether the petitioner was entitled to appointment to the post of Postman in Thiruvalla Division in a vacancy reserved for physically handicapped persons (visually handicapped).

2. The petitioner was appointed as an Extra Departmental Delivery Agent at Mithrakary Post Office in Thiruvalla Division on 10-10-1984. He was subsequently promoted to Group-D post on 13-07-2004. He was promoted to the category of Postman in May, 2010 on the basis of the recommendation made by the Departmental Promotion Committee on 30-03-2010 in a vacancy earmarked for visually handicapped. While continuing so, the petitioner retired from service on 31-10-2014. The main grievances highlighted by the petitioner are: (1) He was denied his due promotion to the post of Postman earmarked for physically handicapped persons in 1997 for the reason that he failed in the examination conducted by the Department for that purpose. If the policy of applying relaxed standards was followed in the case of the petitioner, he would have been promoted in 1997 itself to the post of Postman earmarked for physically h