A court can mandate administrative actions to ensure timely consideration of welfare requests by employees, especially for health-related accommodations.

JUDGMENT

The above Writ Petition (C) is filed with the following prayers:

"i) Call for the records leading to this case and issue a writ of mandamus directing the 1st respondent to consider and pass appropriate orders on Exhibit P6 and post the Petitioner as a Store Issuer in the Regional Workshop, Aluva exempting him from performing the duty of a mechanic.

ii) Issue such other orders as this Hon’ble court may deem fit to issue in the fact of this case.

iii) Dispense with filing of the translation of vernacular documents. "

[SIC]

2. The petitioner is a Mechanic in the Regional Workshop, Aluva of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (in short KSRTC). According to the petitioner, as evidenced in Exts.P1and P5 Medical Certificates, the petitioner is suffering from chronic eczema and not in a position to perform duty of a mechanic having contact with petrol/ diesel. He was granted light duty for six months as seen in Ext.P4, is the submission. His illness is not completely cured, is the further submission. Therefore, the petitioner submitted Ext.P6 for extension of the period with Ext.P5 Medical Certificate. The same is not considered is the grievance of the petitioner. Now the period mentioned in Ext.P4 will expire on 28.02.2026. Hence, this writ petition.

3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents.

4. After hearing both sides, I think there can be a direction to the 1^st respondent to consider Ext.P6, within a time frame. Therefore, this writ petition is disposed of with the following directions:

(i) The 1^st respondent is directed to consider Ext.P6 taking into consideration Ext.P5, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment.

(ii) Till then the petitioner shall be allowed to continue in the duty as ordered in Ext.P4.

(iii) I make it clear that I have not considered the matter on merit, and the 1^st respondent is free to pass appropriate orders in accordance with the law, If necessary, after getting Medical Board opinion.

Sd/-