JUDGMENT

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Petitioners - Escort Attendants working in the High Court of Kerala seek to direct the respondents to rectify the junior-senior anomaly and fix the pay of the petitioners in tune with the pay fixed in respect of their juniors and grant all consequential benefits to them.

2. The petitioners state that they were appointed as Peons in the High Court service during the year 2007-2009. They were granted First Time Bound Higher Grade on completion of eight years service. The High Court incorporated the post of Escort Attendant in the Kerala High Court Service Rules, 2007 as category 4(a) under Division IV.

3. Appointment to the post of Escort Attendants was to be made by transfer from suitable and willing members in the categories of Court Keeper (HG), Court Keeper, Office Attendant (HG) and Office Attendant, based on seniority, as per Ext.P5 Office Memorandum dated 26.11.2020. The posts of Escort Attendants were created covering 47 posts of Office Attendants. Petitioners 1 to 8 and 10 were appointed as Escort Attendants by transfer, as per Ext.P9 order dated 30.07.2021.

4. The petitioners had received First Time Bound Higher Grade on completion of eight years servi