Chitambaresh, J.

The method of appointment to the post of Agricultural Officer

Grade-II in the Department of Agriculture of the State is by direct

recruitment and appointment by transfer in the ratio of 85% : 15%.

13% out of the said 15% is reserved for those who have cleared

VHSE in Agriculture and 2% for those who have a Degree in B.Sc.

(Agriculture) from among the Agricultural Assistants in service. The

candidates should have 10 years' service as Agricultural Assistant

for appointment to the 13% posts and 3 years' service as

Agricultural Assistant for appointment to the 2% posts. The

candidates should also pass a suitability test conducted by the

Kerala Public Service Commission ('the PSC' for short) the propriety

of which falls for consideration in this bunch of cases.

2.

The notification published in the Gazette dated

12.8.2011 by the PSC inviting applications from qualified

Agricultural Assistants for the suitability test inter alia contained the

following clause:

“Answer shall be written either in English or in

-: 63 :-

Malayalam

[G.O.(Ms)No.141/2001/Agri

dated

22.5.2001].”

But the instructions issued to the candidates in the hall ticket

pr