J UDGMENT

The petitioner competed in the News Reading Competition at the Kerala Social Science Fair HSS/VSS held in the Alappuzha Sub- District Sasthrolsavam and secured 3^rd position. Dissatisfied with the result, the petitioner preferred appeal, which the appeal committee rejected as per Ext.P4. Hence this writ petition.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the appeal was initially dismissed on the premise that the petitioner had secured only the 5^th position and on the mistake being pointed out, Ext.P4 order was passed on the premise that the petitioner had secured 13 marks less than the contestant in the 2^nd position. It is contended that, contrary to the Manual stipulating the guidelines for conduct of Sasthrolsavam, the score sheet was corrected and the remarks column left blank. The appeal was rejected without considering these fatal mistakes committed by the judges.

3. Learned Government Pleader contended that, innumerable number of appeals are filed after each competition item and members of the appeal committee being Government officials, have other duties. They are bestowed with the duties in connection with the election to the local bodies in the State and th