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THE KERALA HIGH COURT SERVICE RULES, 2007

PART I
GENERAL

In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 229 of the Constitution of

India, and in supersession of all existing rules on the subject, the Chief Justice
hereby makes the following rules to regulate the recruitment and the conditions
of service of the members of the Kerala High Court Service, hereinafter
referred to as 'the Service': -
1. Short title, Commencement and Extent:-

(i) These rules may be called the Kerala High Court Service Rules,
2007 and shall come into force on 1.1. 2007.

They shall apply to the members of the Service, as on the date of its
enforcement and appointed thereafter.

2. Definitions – In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires;

(1)”Appointment by promotion” means appointment of an approved

probationer to a higher post in the direct line of promotion. Appointment
by transfer of a member of the Service from a category in a lower
division to a category in a higher division or from a lower scale to a
higher scale in the same division shall also be treated as promotion.

(2)”Appointment by Transfer” means appointment of an approved

probationer in one post to another post, which is not in the direct line of
promotion.

(3)Appointed to the Service - A person is said to be appointed to the

Service when, in accordance with these Rules or in accordance with the
rules in force at the time as the case may be, he discharges for the first
time the duties of a post whether permanent or temporary borne on the
cadre of the Service or commences the probation prescribed for the
members thereof.

(4)"Approved probationer" means a member of the Service who has

satisfactorily completed his probation in a category of the Service and
awaits appointment as a full member thereof.

(5)“Chief Justice” means the Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala.
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(6) Direct recruitment - A person is said to be “directly recruited” to the

Service when he is appointed substantively for the first time to the
Service.

(7) Duty - A person is said to be "on duty” as a member of the Service;

(a)When he is performing the duties of a post borne on the cadre

of the Service or is undergoing probation; or

(b) When he is on joining time; or

(c) When he is absent from duty during vacation or on authorised

holidays or on casual leave taken in accordance with the
instructions regulating such leave issued by the State
Government, having been on duty immediately before and
immediately after such absence; or

(d)When he is on deputation, during his period of probation, for

training or for acquisition of higher or additional qualification in
public interest; or

(e) When he is waiting for posting orders after reporting for duty;
or

(f) When he is given the benefit of notional promotion

consequent on revision of rank and seniority; or

(g) in the case of a female member, when she is on maternity

leave during her period of probation.

(8) "Full member” means a member of the Service who has been
appointed substantively to a permanent post borne on the cadre
thereof.

(9)"High Court" means the High Court of Kerala.

(10)“High Court Office Procedure Test” means the Test on the Kerala
High Court Act, the Rules of the High Court of Kerala and High Court
Office Manual conducted by the High Court provided that in the case of
those who were appointed to the Service on or before 5.10.1990, a pass
in the Secretariat Manual test or test in Manual of Office Procedure shall
be considered as an equivalent qualification.
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(11)“ Judicial Test (Higher)” means the test prescribed under rule 38.

(12) "Member of the Service" means a person who has been appointed
to the Service and who has not retired or resigned, been removed or
dismissed, been substantively transferred to another service or been
discharged otherwise than for want of a vacancy and may be a
probationer, an approved probationer, or a full member.

(13)"Probationer” means a member of the Service who has not

completed his probation.

(14)Recruitment by transfer - A person is said to be ‘recruited by

transfer’ to the Service, when at the time of his first appointment
thereto, he is a member of another service as defined in rule 2(15) of the
Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1958 or any other service
prescribed by these Rules.

(15)"Scheduled Castes", "Scheduled Tribes" and "Other Backward

Classes" mean those mentioned as such in the schedule to Part I of the
Kerala State and Subordinate Services Rules, 1958.

(16) “University degree” means a Bachelors degree in any subject

awarded or recognised by any of the Universities in Kerala.

3. Interpretation - Any question relating to the interpretation of these Rules

shall be decided by the Chief Justice, and subject to any decision in appeal
therefrom, the decision of the Chief Justice shall be final.
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PART II

CONSTITUTION, QUALIFICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, PROBATION AND

PROMOTION

4. Constitution -The Kerala High Court Service shall consist of the following
Divisions, Sub Divisions and Categories: -

Division-I

Sub Division I
Category No.

1. Registrar General
2. Registrar (Subordinate Judiciary)
3. Registrar (Vigilance)
4. Director of Kerala Judicial Academy
5. Additional Director of Kerala Judicial Academy
6. Deputy Director of Kerala Judicial Academy
7. Assistant Director of Kerala Judicial Academy

Sub Division 2

1. Registrar(Judicial)
2. Joint Registrar
3. Deputy Registrar
4. Assistant Registrar (Higher Grade)
5. Assistant Registrar
6. Section Officer(Higher Grade)/ Court Officer(Higher Grade)
7. Section Officer/Court Officer/Court Fee Examiner

Sub Division 3

1. Private Secretary to the Chief Justice

2. Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice
3. Additional Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice

Sub Division 4

1. Public Relations Officer

2. Protocol Officer
3. Assistant Protocol Officer
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Sub Division 5

1. Finance Officer
2. Accountant

Sub Division 6

1. Private Secretary to Judge (Higher Grade)

2. Private Secretary to Judge
3. Selection Grade Personal Assistant to Judge

Sub Division 7

1. Chief Librarian
2. Librarian
3. Reference Librarian
4. Assistant Librarian

Sub Division 8

1. Security Officer

Sub Division 9

1. Head Translator

Sub Division 10

1. Office Superintendent

Sub Division 11

1. Superintendent (Vehicles)

Sub Division 12

1. Deputy Superintendent of Police

2. Circle Inspector of Police
3. Head Constable
4. Police Constable
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Division-II

Sub Division 1

1. Selection Grade Assistant

2. Senior Grade Assistant
3. Assistant/ Junior Accountant.

Sub Division 2

1. Personal Assistant to Judge Grade -I

2. Personal Assistant to Judge Grade-II
3. Confidential Assistant Grade-II

Sub Division 3

1. Selection Grade Typist

2. Senior Grade Typist
3. Typist Grade- I
4. Typist Grade-II

Sub Division 4

1. Selection Grade Typist Copyist

2. Senior Grade Typist Copyist
3. Typist Copyist Grade-I
4. Typist Copyist Grade-II

Sub Division 5

1. Translator
2. Translator (Kannada)

Sub Division 6

1. Cataloguer
2. Senior Grade Library Assistant
3. Higher Grade Library Assistant
4. Library Assistant

Sub Division 7

1. Overseer Grade-I
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Sub Division 8

1. Senior Grade Chauffeur

2. Chauffeur Grade-I
3. Chauffeur Grade-II

Sub Division 9

1. Motor Car Mechanic Grade-II

Sub Division 10

1. Clerical Assistant (Higher Grade)

2. Clerical Assistant

Sub Division 11

1. Telephone Operator

Sub Division 12

1. Photo Copier Operator

2. Duplicator Operator

Sub Division 13
1. Binder (Higher Grade)
2. Binder
3. Electrician-cum-Plumber
4. Plumber
5. Lift Operator
6. Carpenter

Sub Division 14
1. Care Taker

Sub Division 15

1. Attender Grade-I
2. Attender Grade-II
Division-III
1. Civil Sergeant
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Division-IV
1. Head Gardener
2. Gardener
3. Helper
4. Duffadar
5. Court Keeper
6. Higher Grade Peon /Last Grade Employee Grade-I
7. Peon
8. Vacuum Cleaner Operator
9. Watchman
10. Cook
11. Sweeper-cum-Peon
12. Sweeper
13. Sanitation Worker

5. Appointing Authority:- The Chief Justice shall be the appointing authority for all
categories, but the Registrar General may subject to the control of the Chief Justice, make
appointments to categories in Divisions III and IV:
Provided that -
(1) the Registrar General may post any member of the Service in
Divisions II and IV from one category to another on the same scale of pay
for which he is qualified;

(2) reappointment to any post other than a post in Division I shall be made
by the Registrar General.

6. (1) Method of appointment:- Appointment to any of the categories in the Service shall
be as per the methods prescribed in Column (3) of Annexure I to these Rules.

Provided that the Chief Justice may appoint a duly qualified member of another
service as defined in rule 2(15) of the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1958 or
the service of a Local Self Government Institution or a Statutory Corporation or Public
Sector Undertaking under the State Government or any University to a vacancy in any
category for the filling up of which recruitment by transfer is a method of appointment
prescribed under these Rules.

Provided further that the Chief Justice may borrow the services of an officer
belonging to any other service under Government of Kerala or the Central Government or
a High Court or Local Self Government Institution or a Statutory Corporation or Public
Sector Undertaking under the State Government or any University and appoint him to a
post in the Service for a term.:
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Provided further that the Chief Justice may, if he is satisfied that members of the
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes are not adequately represented in any category or
categories in the Service, make a special recruitment to such number of posts in such
category or categories as are required to make up the deficiency or part thereof and
candidates so recruited may be appointed to any of the existing vacancies in the category
or to any supernumerary posts created for the purpose of such appointment. The
educational and special qualifications, age, experience and the method of appointment for
the special recruitment shall be those specified by the Chief Justice for the purpose of each
such recruitment. Where the special recruitment is made to a vacancy which is not
permanent, the person appointed may, notwithstanding anything contained in Rule16, be
retained in the category till he is absorbed in a permanent vacancy.

(2) Joining time : Candidates appointed to any category in the Service by direct
recruitment method shall have to join duty within a period of 21 days from the date of
receipt of the appointment order. If they fail to join duty within the prescribed period, their
appointments will be treated as cancelled.

Provided that extension of joining time for a period of 45 days may be granted in
deserving cases.

7. Procedure for direct recruitment and preparation of Rank list:-

(1) Subject to Rule 40(3), all appointments by direct recruitment shall be made
from a Rank list prepared after due process of selection, including written test or interview
or both, wherever required, commencing from publication of notification inviting
applications from qualified hands.
Provided that appointment to categories in Division IV, by direct recruitment, may
also be made from a Rank list prepared after a due process of selection from the list of
qualified hands furnished by the employment exchange.
Provided further that a Judge on his appointment, may nominate persons of his
choice for appointment of two Peons and a Part-time Sweeper to his personal staff, subject
to availability of vacancies and the qualifications prescribed in these Rules.
(2) Rank list prepared for appointment by direct recruitment to the Service shall
remain in force for a minimum period of two years from the date on which it is brought
into force and shall continue to remain in force until the publication of a fresh list or till
the expiry of three years, whichever is earlier.

8. Qualifications:-
(1) General: - No person shall be eligible for appointment to the service by direct
recruitment, unless he satisfies the appointing authority that he -
(a) is a citizen of India,
(b) is of sound health, active habits and free from bodily defect or infirmity which
renders him unfit for service,
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(c) is of good character, conduct and antecedents,

(d) has completed 18 years but not attained 35 years of age as on the first day of
January of the year in which the notification inviting applications is published.
Provided that
(i) the upper age limit prescribed shall not apply to appointments to Sub
Divisions 1 and 2 of Division I;

(ii) the upper age limit shall be raised by five years in the case of a person
belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe and by three years in
the case of a person belonging to the Other Backward Classes;
(iii) in appointments to the post of Assistant, by direct recruitment,
members of the Service in categories having pay scales below that of
Assistant are eligible to compete for selection, provided they have not
attained 40 years of age as on the date prescribed in the notification, and
appointment offered to any of them shall be against open competition
vacancy only.

(iv) upper age limit shall not be applicable for appointment of Part-time
contingent employees of the High Court to the Service provided they have
not attained the age of 50 years.

(v) in the case of a candidate who is an Ex-serviceman or Ex-general

Reserve Engineer Force person or a disembodied Territorial Army person,
the period of his service in the defence forces or in the General Reserve
Engineer Force or in the Territorial Army, as the case may be and the
period of unemployment on discharge upto a maximum of five years shall
be excluded in reckoning the age for his eligibility for appointment.

(2) Educational and Special Qualifications:-

(i) Subject to the other provisions in these Rules, the educational and special
qualifications, if any, for appointment to a category shall be as specified in column 4 of
Annexure-I or those prescribed by orders of the Chief Justice as equivalent qualifications.
Members of the Service who attain the age of 50 years shall be eligible for permanent
exemption from possessing the special qualifications prescribed.

Provided that the Chief Justice may by order exempt any officer or a class of
officers on the basis of his or their age and experience from possessing the special
qualifications.
Explanation : Special qualification means departmental test conducted by
the High Court or the Kerala Public Service Commission but does not include
Judicial Test(Higher).
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(ii) The Chief Justice may order the imparting of training to Personal Assistant to
Judge Grade-II and Confidential Assistant Grade-II in English usage, grammar and legal
language and direct clearance in such training as an obligatory qualification for the
persons appointed to the above said categories for further promotion in the direct line of
promotion.
(iii) The Chief Justice may, in appointments by direct recruitment, restrict the
eligibility to apply prescribing higher qualifications of first or second class or higher grade
in the qualifying examination, for any category or post.

9. Reservation of Appointments for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and Other

Backward Classes - The rules for the time being in force in the General Rules in Part II
of the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules,1958, regarding reservation of
appointments for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes shall
apply to direct recruitments to the Service.

10. Exemption from passing tests. - Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 8(2) (i)
where a pass in departmental test is prescribed as special qualification for promotion or
declaration of probation for any category, grade or post, a member already in service
belonging to Scheduled Caste or Tribe who has not passed the test but who is otherwise
qualified for appointment to such category, grade or post may be appointed thereto
granting temporary exemption from special qualifications for such period as the Chief
Justice may order from time to time. If the member so appointed does not pass the test
within the said period of exemption, he shall be reverted to the category, grade or post
from which he was so appointed and shall not again be eligible for appointment under this
rule:
Provided that a person so reverted shall not by reason only of his appointment
under this rule be entitled to any preferential claim to future appointments to any category,
grade or post as the case may be, to which he had been appointed under this rule.
11. Reservation of vacancies to specified categories of applicants:-
(1)Notwithstanding anything contained in these Rules, the Chief Justice may fill
up such number of vacancies not exceeding 10%, for compassionate appointment from
among the dependents of the staff of the High Court who die in harness and dependents
of Advocates practising in the High Court and the dependents of registered clerks of
Advocates who die while in active practice or on employment as the case may be.
Depending upon the qualifications of the applicant, such appointment shall be confined to
the following categories;
(a) Assistant
(b)Typist Grade II
(c)Typist Copyist Grade II
(d)Peon
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Such appointment shall be subject to the following conditions;

(i) 10% of the vacancies mentioned shall mean 10% of the

vacancies arising in the categories mentioned above in an year.

(ii) The dependents of Advocates or Advocates' Clerks who die

while in practice or in employment, after completion of the age
of 58 years shall not be considered for appointment.

(iii) Only one dependent of a deceased will be appointed under this

rule.

(iv) No dependents other than widow/widower, son or daughter

shall be considered as dependent of the deceased.

(v) Applications received within three years of the date of death

alone shall be considered. But, in the case of minor son or
daughter at the time of death, applications received within five
years of the death shall also be considered, provided the
deceased had no major son or daughter at the time of death.

(vi) In the application all other major dependents shall record their
consent for granting employment assistance in favour of the
applicant, except in the case of widow or widower. Such
consent shall be countersigned by any gazetted officer of the
State Government or Central Government or any gazetted
officer of the High Court. In the case of any dispute among the
dependents, the candidate nominated by widow/widower shall
be appointed. A certificate from the Revenue Officer not below
the rank of a Tahsildar that the applicant was the dependent of
the deceased shall also be produced along with the application.

(vii) Appointment shall not be given, if at the time of death or in the

preceding year the deceased or his family was having an annual
income exceeding Rs.3 lakhs, or the upper income limit
prescribed by the Government from time to time in this regard,
whichever is higher. The applicant shall produce an income
certificate concerning the deceased or his family as the case may
be issued by a Revenue Officer not below the rank of a
Tahsildar.

(viii) The Chief Justice shall in appropriate cases, cause an enquiry

into the details furnished in the application through the
Collector of the District where the deceased was residing during
the last five years preceding the date of death of the deceased
and/or of the applicant.
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(ix) The appointee shall possess all qualifications prescribed for the
post to which he is appointed and shall satisfy all other
conditions for direct recruitment.

(x) Upper age limit for direct recruitment shall not be applicable to
the widow/widower provided the appointee has not attained the
age of 50 years. In the case of unemployed son or daughter, the
maximum age for appointment shall be relaxed by five years,
over and above the age limit prescribed for direct recruitment.

(xi) All applications received shall be registered in the order of its

receipt in a separate Register maintained for this purpose.
Applications submitted within three months of the death of the
deceased shall be given priority in accordance with the date of
death and applications submitted after a period of three months
of death of the deceased shall be given priority with reference
to the date of submission of application. The Chief Justice will
have the discretionary power in appropriate cases to appoint any
applicant otherwise than in accordance with the priority
recorded in the Register.
(2) Three percent of the vacancies arising every year in the following categories
shall be filled up by appointing physically handicapped persons satisfying the criteria laid
down in Rule 9(e) of Part II of the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules, 1958;
1. Typist Grade-II
2. Telephone Operator
3. Typist Copyist Grade-II
4. Clerical Assistant
5. Binder
6. Lift Operator
7. Duplicator Operator
8. Gardener
9. Peon
Provided that the persons with partial blindness or low vision will be eligible for
appointment to the categories of Clerical Assistant, Duplicator Operator and Gardener
only.
12. Security:- The posts of Section Officer in the Accounts Section assigned with cash
handling, the Accountant and the Chief Librarian shall carry a security of Rs.2,000,
Rs.1,000 and Rs.1,000 respectively. Fidelity guarantee bonds shall be taken from the State
Insurance Department for the persons appointed to the said posts.
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13. Probation:-

(a) Every person appointed to any of the categories shall from the date on which
he joins duty, be on probation-

(i) if recruited direct or by transfer from any other service or,

by appointment by transfer to the post of Assistant from lower categories;
for a total period of two years on duty within a continuous period of three years ; or

(ii) if appointed by promotion or by transfer other than to the post of Assistant, for a
period of one year on duty within a continuous period of two years.

(b) Section Officer/ Court Officer/ Court Fee Examiner directly recruited shall
pass Account Test(Lower) and High Court Office Procedure Test for declaration of their
probation. Assistants directly recruited and appointed by transfer from lower categories
shall pass High Court Office Procedure Test for declaration of their probation.

(c) A probationer in any category of the Service, who is appointed to a post

carrying an equivalent or higher scale of pay, in this Service or any other service in the
Judicial department, shall be entitled to count towards his probation in the former category
any period of duty in the latter post, if during such period he would have held a post in the
former category, but for such appointment.

(d) A member of the Service deputed in public interest to discharge the duties of
another post in an equivalent or higher scale of pay in any other service shall be eligible to
count the period of such deputation for probation in the category in which he was a
probationer at the time of his deputation or would have been a probationer but for his
deputation, provided the competent authority of the service to which the member is
deputed certifies that the member's work and conduct during the period of deputation are
satisfactory.

(e) When a probationer has appeared within the period of probation for any special
qualification tests, and the results of the tests are not known before the expiry of the
period of probation, such period shall stand extended until the publication of the results
and on publication of the results, if the probationer is found to have passed the test, his
probation shall be declared with effect from the date on which he satisfactorily completed
the prescribed period of probation.
(f) Where there are more than one grade to the same category and duties and
responsibilities attached to the various grades are one and the same, and the appointment
to the higher grades are made by promotion from the lower grades, then the probation
shall be insisted only in the lowest grade to such category.
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14. (1) Discharge of Probationer:- The appointing authority may at any time at its
discretion, by order, terminate the probation of a probationer and discharge him after
giving him a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be
taken.

(2) Consequences of failure to pass tests:- If a probationer fails to acquire the

prescribed special qualification within the prescribed or extended period of probation, the
appointing authority shall, by order, discharge him from Service.

(3) Completion of probation:- If at the end of the prescribed or extended period

of probation as the case may be, the appointing authority considers the probationer to be
suitable for full membership, it shall issue an order declaring the probationer to have
satisfactorily completed his period of probation. On the issue of such order, the
probationer shall be deemed to have satisfactorily completed his probation on the date of
expiry of the prescribed or extended period of probation as the case may be.

(4) Discharge at the end of probation:- If at the end of the prescribed or

extended period of probation, as the case may be, the appointing authority does not
consider the probationer suitable for full membership, it shall discharge him from the
Service after giving him a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action
proposed to be taken.

15. Extension of probation:- In the case of a probationer failing to acquire the special
qualifications or pass the prescribed test or his suitability for full membership is found
wanting, the appointing authority may extend his probation for a maximum period of two
years, to enable him to acquire special qualifications or pass the prescribed test, as the
case may be, or to enable the appointing authority to decide whether the probationer is
suitable for full membership or not. Extension of probation beyond two years may,
however, be ordered by the Chief Justice if found necessary. In cases where the probation
of a probationer is extended, a condition shall, unless there are special reasons to the
contrary, be attached to the order of extension of probation, that the probationer's
increment shall be stopped until he is declared to have satisfactorily completed his
probation. If, however, the probationer has already drawn an increment his next increment
shall be postponed until he is declared to have satisfactorily completed his probation and
by the period for which his probation is extended. Such stoppage of increment shall not be
treated as penalty but only as a condition of extension of probation and shall not have the
effect of postponing future increments after he has passed the prescribed tests or
examinations or after he is declared to have satisfactorily completed his probation.

16. (a)Discharge of probationers and approved probationers for want of vacancy:-

Probationers and approved probationers shall be discharged for want of vacancy in

the following order:
(i) First, the probationers in order of juniority; and
(ii) Second, the approved probationers in order of juniority.
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(b) Reappointment:- Approved probationers and probationers, who have been

discharged for want of vacancies shall be reappointed as vacancies arise in the following
order:

(i) First, the approved probationers in order of seniority; and

(ii) Second, the probationers in order of seniority.
(c) Discharge and reappointment in exceptional cases:- The order of discharge or
re-appointment prescribed above may be departed from in cases where its observance
would involve exceptional administrative inconvenience.

(d) Right of reappointment:- Subject to the provisions of these Rules, a vacancy

in any category of the Service shall not be filled by the appointment of a person who has
not yet commenced his probation in that category when an approved probationer or
probationer in such category discharged for want of vacancy is available for
reappointment to that category.

17. (1)Notwithstanding anything contained in any orders of appointment or promotion

or an order declaring probation, the existing incumbents in the categories of Private
Secretary to the Chief Justice, Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice and Additional
Personal Assistant to the Chief Justice may be posted back to his parent cadre from
which he was appointed, by the Chief Justice and in that event he shall be granted
promotion/(s) which he would have obtained had he not been absent from the parent
cadre.
(2) The above sub rule will mutatis mutandis apply to the existing incumbents in the
categories of Public Relations Officer, Protocol Officer, Assistant Protocol Officer,
Finance Officer, Librarian, Reference Librarian, Assistant Librarian, Accountant, Head
Translator, Cataloguer, Translator and Translator(Kannada) and they may be posted
back to their parent cadre at any time by the Chief Justice.
(3) The appointees to the posts referred to in sub rules (1) and (2) shall hold office
during the pleasure of the Chief Justice and on their posting back to their parent cadre
they shall be granted all service benefits which they would have obtained had they not
been absent from duty in the parent cadre.
(4) The Chief Justice, if he thinks fit, may pass orders granting pay protection to the
existing incumbents in service on the date of enforcement of these rules who are
reverted under sub-rule (3).

18. Appointment as full members:- An approved probationer shall, if a substantive

vacancy in the permanent cadre of the category for which he was selected exists, be
appointed to be a full member of the Service in such category at the earliest possible
opportunity, and if such vacancy existed from a date previous to the issue of the order of
appointment as full member, he may be so appointed with retrospective effect from such
date or, as the case may be, from a subsequent date from which he was continuously on
duty as a member of the Service in such category or in a higher category:
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Provided that-
(1) Where more than one approved probationer is available for such appointment,
the seniormost on the date of occurrence of vacancy shall be appointed;

(2) A member of the Service completing his probation earlier than another
member of the Service senior to him by virtue of completion of probation alone,
shall not be confirmed before the member senior to him. A senior member shall
be confirmed according to his seniority in the Service after he completes
satisfactorily the period of his probation.
Explanation:- An approved probationer who has been on leave or on other duty
shall be deemed to be on duty as a member of the Service in the category
concerned if he would have been on duty in such category or in a higher category
but for his absence on leave or on other duty.
19.Seniority:-
(1) (a) Seniority of a member in a category shall, unless he has been reduced to a
lower rank as punishment, be determined by the date of his first appointment to such
category:
Provided that where the initial appointment is temporary, seniority shall be
determined by the date on which he commences probation;

(b) Where any difficulty or doubt arises in applying this Rule, seniority shall be
determined by the appointing authority.
(2) Where two or more persons are simultaneously appointed to a category, their order
of seniority shall be fixed by the order in which their names appear in the order of
appointment.

20. Promotion and appointment by transfer:-

(1) (a)The following categories shall be treated as selection categories for promotion
which shall be made on ground of merit and ability, seniority being considered only where
merit and ability are approximately equal.
1. Registrar General
2. Registrar (Subordinate Judiciary)
3. Registrar( Judicial)
4. Joint Registrar
5. Deputy Registrar
6. Assistant Registrar
7. Section Officer/ Court Officer/ Court Fee Examiner
8. Private Secretary to Judge
9. Chief Librarian
10.Librarian
11.Reference Librarian
12.Assistant Librarian
13.Head Translator
14.Office Superintendent
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(b) In all other cases promotion shall be on the basis of seniority subject to fitness.

(2) (a) One fifth of the posts of Assistant Registrars shall be filled up by promotion of
graduates (other than law graduates)working in the category of Section Officer (Higher
Grade)/ Court Officer(Higher Grade), subject to the following conditions:
(i) they must have completed 50 years of age.
(ii) they must be willing to be appointed as Assistant Registrars.
(iii) their capacity and competence to hold the post must be certified by a
committee consisting of Registrar General, Registrar (Subordinate
Judiciary) and Registrar (Judicial).
(iv) if a qualified non law graduate is not available for promotion on the date
of occurrence of vacancy, it shall be filled up by eligible law graduate.
Provided that an eligible law graduate who is senior shall not be superseded by a
non law graduate by the application of this clause.

(b) Appointment as Section Officer/Court Officer/ Court Fee Examiner shall be made
from among Selection Grade Assistant, Personal Assistant to Judge Grade-I , Translator,
Translator(Kannada), Cataloguer, Selection Grade Typist and Selection Grade Typist
Copyist. Inter se seniority among these categories will be determined with reference to
their date of appointment as Assistant, Personal Assistant to Judge Grade II, Translator,
Translator(Kannada), Cataloguer, Typist Grade-I and Senior Grade Typist Copyist,
provided that Assistants appointed prior to 25.3.2006, shall be entitled to seniority with
effect from the date of appointment as Assistant Grade-I or 25.3.2006 whichever is earlier.
The seniormost in the category of Section Officer/Court Officer/Court Fee Examiner shall
be promoted as Section Officer (Higher Grade)/ Court Officer(Higher Grade).

Provided that for the posts sanctioned as Section Officer, law degree/ Judicial Test
(Higher) prescribed as a general qualification shall not be insisted for promotion from the
categories of Selection Grade Assistant and Personal Assistant to Judge Grade-I. Of the
sanctioned posts of Section Officers, four shall be reserved for promotion from the
category of Personal Assistant to Judge Grade-I and the rest be filled up from the category
of Selection Grade Assistant subject to passing of Account Test(Lower), High Court
Office Procedure Test, Civil Judicial Test and Criminal Judicial Test in addition to
holding of University Degree.

Explanation 1: Incumbents promoted from the post of Personal Assistant to Judge to the
post of Section Officer / Court Officer/ Court Fee Examiner may be ordered to be posted
in exigencies of service to work as Personal Assistant to Judge. In such cases, they shall
be considered for further promotion according to their turn to higher posts of Private
Secretary to Judge and Private Secretary to Judge (Higher Grade). They shall also be
considered for promotion as Section Officer(Higher Grade)/ Court Officer(Higher Grade)
and higher posts according to their turn. The incumbent shall opt which of the promotions
in the two channels shall be regular and which shall be notional. Subject to the orders
passed in exigencies of service, he shall normally be allowed to work in the post carrying
the higher scale of pay among the two promotion posts.
 19

Explanation 2 :Personal Assistant to Judge Grade-I promoted as Selection Grade

Personal Assistant to Judge before his turn arose for promotion as Section Officer/Court
Officer/Court Fee Examiner shall also be considered according to his turn for promotion
notwithstanding his promotion as Selection Grade Personal Assistant to Judge.
Explanation 3: Seniority in the cadre of Section Officer/ Court Officer/ Court Fee
Examiner shall be reckoned with effect from the date of first appointment to one of the
said posts, subject to the restriction that the seniority of Court Fee Examiners shall be
reckoned only with effect from 21.5.2004 or from the date of appointment whichever is
later.
Explanation 4 : Court Officers who are in service on the date of coming into force of
these Rules and who have relinquished their promotion to the post of Court
Officer(Higher Grade) to work in the post of Librarian / Reference Librarian/ Assistant
Librarian will be notionally promoted to the post of Section Officer (Higher Grade)/ Court
Officer(Higher Grade) with effect from the date their turn arose, but without any monetary
benefits.

(c)Notwithstanding anything contained in rule 20(2)(b), not more than five posts of
Section Officer/Court Officer/Court Fee Examiner may be filled by promotion of
graduates(other than law graduates) working in the categories of Translator,
Translator(Kannada), Selection Grade Typist, Selection Grade Typist Copyist or
Cataloguer subject to the following conditions;

(i)they must have completed 50 years of age and 20 years of total service, the
service being calculated after taking into account the service from the date of
appointment as Translator, Translator(Kannada),Typist Grade II, Typist
Copyist Grade I and Cataloguer, as the case may be;

(ii) they must be willing to be appointed as Court Officers;

(iii) their capacity for bench work/supervision must be certified by a committee

consisting of the Registrar General, Registrar( Judicial) and the Joint Registrar;

(iv) a law graduate who is senior to a non law graduate shall not be superseded
by a non law graduate by the application of this clause.
(d) The members of the Service working in different categories in Divisions II , III
and IV with scales of pay lower than that of Assistant shall be eligible for appointment to
ten percent of the cadre strength of Assistant if they are in possession of a University
degree, and found suitable by the Chief Justice for such appointment, subject to the
following conditions-

(i)direct recruits to the categories of Typist Grade II, Typist-Copyist Grade II,
Telephone Operator, Library Assistant, Clerical Assistant, Chauffeur Grade II,
Motor Car Mechanic, Electrician-Cum-Plumber, Plumber, Civil Sergeant and
Care Taker, must have completed a minimum of four years regular service in one
or other of the said categories and in the case of others, they must have completed
either four years regular service in one or other of the above said categories or
seven years of total regular service in the High Court ;
 20

(ii) vacancies that remain unfilled for want of sufficient suitable and qualified
hands, shall be filled up by direct recruitment.

(iii)notwithstanding anything contained in these Rules, on such appointment as

Assistant, they shall cease to be eligible for further promotion in their former
categories.

(iv) suitability shall be determined on the basis of a written test and interview.

(e) Promotion to the category of Higher Grade Peon/Last Grade Employee Grade I
shall be from the categories of Peon, Watchman, Vacuum Cleaner Operator, Sweeper-
cum-Peon Sweeper, Sanitation Worker and Cook treating them as one category, their
seniority being determined with reference to the date of their first appointment to such
categories.

(f) Five percent of the total cadre strength of the category of Peon may be filled up
by appointment of suitable and qualified Part-time Sweepers/Sanitation Workers in the
High Court based on their seniority, provided that they have not attained the age of 50
years and for such appointment, qualification prescribed in Annexure I shall not be
insisted.

(3) No member of the Service shall be eligible for promotion from the category in which
he was appointed unless he is declared to have satisfactorily completed the period of
probation, if any prescribed, in that category:

Provided that a probationer in a category shall not be superseded for promotion to

a higher category by his junior, if the vacancy in the higher category arises within the
period specified in the Rules for completion of probation in the category in which he is a
probationer and if he has passed the test or tests prescribed for successful completion of
probation and is otherwise eligible and suitable for such promotion; but his promotion
shall be subject to the condition that he satisfactorily completes the probation in the
category from which he was promoted within the period prescribed therefor, and for this
purpose the period of service put in by him in the higher category shall be reckoned
towards probation in the category from which he was promoted and also in the category to
which he was promoted:

Provided further that if a probationer promoted in pursuance of the above proviso

fails to complete his probation in the category from which he was promoted within the
period prescribed therefor, his probation in the higher category shall be terminated and he
shall be reverted to the category from which he was promoted, and any subsequent
promotion of such person to the higher category shall not entitle such person to claim
seniority in the higher category by reason only of his previous promotion in pursuance of
the preceding proviso and he shall commence probation afresh in that category from the
date of such subsequent promotion.
 21

(4) Promotion which depends upon the passing of any general or departmental
examination shall ordinarily be made with reference to the conditions existing at the time
of occurrence of the vacancies and not with reference to those at the time when the
question of promotion is taken up.

(5) Where a pass in any examination or test confers on a person the title to any right,
benefit or concession, such title to the right, benefit or concession shall be deemed to have
accrued on the day following the last day of the whole examination or test in which the
candidate became fully qualified.
Explanation : The principles in this sub-rule shall apply for the drawal of
increment and for promotion not involving change of duties against vacancies
remaining unfilled for want of test qualified persons.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Rules, for promotion to higher
categories, the qualifications prescribed for appointments to various posts as per these
Rules will be inapplicable to incumbents in Service in the lower or feeder categories as on
the date of coming into force of these Rules. Qualifications prescribed in the repealed
Rules shall govern them for promotion.

21. Temporary appointments:-

(a) Where it is necessary to fill a vacancy in the Service and there would be undue delay
or administrative inconvenience in appointing a person who is qualified for or entitled to
such appointment or a duly qualified person is not available, the appointing authority may
appoint any other suitable person temporarily until an appointment is made in accordance
with these Rules. An appointee under this rule shall as soon as possible be replaced by a
regular hand.
Provided that the Chief Justice may make temporary appointments in the
exigencies of service to any category de hors the conditions contained in this rule.

(b) A person appointed under sub-rule (a) shall not be regarded as a probationer in the
post and shall not by reason only of such appointment be entitled to any preferential claim
to future appointment. If he is subsequently appointed to the post in accordance with these
Rules, he shall commence his probation in the post from the date of such subsequent
appointment or from such earlier date as the appointing authority may determine.

PART III

SUSPENSION, DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS etc.

22.Suspension and Disciplinary Proceedings: -

(1) Subject to the provisions of these Rules, the provisions contained in the Kerala
Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, for the time being in
force, relating to the suspension of and disciplinary proceedings against a
Government servant, shall apply mutatis mutandis to suspension of and
disciplinary proceedings against a member of the Service.
 22

(2) All references to the Government in the Rules mentioned in sub-rule (1) shall
be treated as references to the Chief Justice.

(3) If any difficulty arises in applying any part of the Rules mentioned in sub-rule
(1) in the case of a member of the Service, the Chief Justice may from time to time
issue such orders as are necessary for the removal of the difficulty.

23. Penalties:-The penalties prescribed in the Civil Services (Classification, Control and
Appeal) Rules for the time being in force may for good and sufficient reason be imposed
by the authorities mentioned in column (3) of Annexure II against incumbents holding the
corresponding categories of posts.

24.Power of Chief Justice to impose penalty: -

(a) Notwithstanding the fact that the Registrar General is the prescribed authority
to impose a penalty under Annexure II, it shall be competent to the Chief Justice
himself to impose such penalty.
(b) Where in any case, the Chief Justice has imposed or declined to impose a
penalty the Registrar General shall have no jurisdiction to take proceedings in the
same case.
(c) The order of the Chief Justice imposing or declining to impose any penalty in
any case shall supercede any order or proceedings of the Registrar General in
respect of the same case

25.Special provision regarding compulsory retirement in public interest :

A member of the Service who has completed 20 years of qualifying service or
attained the age of 50 years may be compulsorily retired in public interest by giving him
notice of not less than three months in writing, if the Chief Justice on assessment of his
record of service is of the view that such member is not fit to continue in service.

Provided that the notice intimating the proposed action shall contain the grounds
on which the proposed action is taken and the person concerned shall be given an
opportunity to represent against the proposed action and to be heard in person.

Provided further that no adverse confidential records shall be used against him
unless he is given a chance to represent to the immediate superior officer of the reporting
authority against the adverse comments seeking its expunction.

Explanation :- Record of service mentioned in the rule will be the record of any
punishments imposed on the employee concerned during his service and the confidential
records for the last three years.
 23

PART IV

APPEAL AND REVIEW

26. Appeal:- No appeal shall lie against any order passed under the provisions of these
Rules except as expressly provided hereinafter.

27. Appeal when lies:- Any member, including a person who has ceased to be a member,
aggrieved by any of the following orders may appeal against the same as hereinafter
provided namely:

(a) an order of suspension excepting when such order is made by the Chief
Justice;

(b) an order imposing any of the penalties specified in Rule 23;

(c) an order altering or interpreting to his disadvantage any rule by which his
conditions of service are regulated;

(d) an order reverting to a lower category or post or grade otherwise than as a

penalty;

(e) an order determining the pay and allowances payable on reinstatement for a
period of suspension;

(f) an order determining whether or not a period of suspension shall be treated

as period on duty for any purpose;

(g) an order discharging a probationer under sub-rule (1) or (4) of Rule 14;

(h) an order fixing the seniority of an officer in the service under rule 19(1)(b);

(i) an order compulsorily retiring a person as per Rule 25;

Provided that no second appeal shall lie in any case.

28.Appellate Authority:- When the order appealed against is one passed by the Registrar
General, the appeal shall be to the Chief Justice and when such order is one passed by the
Chief Justice, the appeal shall be to a Bench of three Judges nominated by the Chief
Justice.
29. Period of limitation for appeal:- No appeal shall be entertained unless it is submitted
within a period of three months from the date of the order appealed against:
Provided that the appellate authority may entertain the appeal after the expiry of
the said period, if it is satisfied that the appellant had sufficient cause for not submitting
the appeal in time.
 24

30. Form and contents of appeal:-

(1)Every person submitting an appeal shall do so separately and in his own name.

(2) Every appeal shall be addressed to the Chief Justice and submitted through the
Registrar General.

31. Consideration of appeals:- The appellate authority shall consider the appeal and all
the circumstances of the case and may confirm, set aside or modify the order appealed
against or remit the case to the original authority with such directions as it may deem fit,
or pass such orders as it deems just and equitable:

Provided that no penalty may be enhanced except under and in accordance with the
provisions contained in the Kerala Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal)
Rules for the time being in force with regard to the enhancement of penalties in appeal.

32. Power of Chief Justice to review:- Notwithstanding anything contained in these

Rules, the Chief Justice may, on his own motion or otherwise, review any order passed by
himself or revise any order passed by the Registrar General:

Provided that no penalty may be imposed or enhanced except under and in

accordance with the provisions contained in the Kerala Civil Services (Classification,
Control and Appeal) Rules for the time being in force with regard to the imposition or
enhancement of penalties in review.

33. Review:- The Registrar General may, if no appeal has been preferred against his
order, review the same for sufficient reason within one month of the passing thereof.

PART V

MISCELLANEOUS

34.Reduction in rank of a full member:- If a full member of any category or grade in the
Service is substantively reduced to a lower category or grade, he shall be deemed to be a
full member of the latter, and the permanent cadre thereof, shall, if there is no vacancy in
which he can be absorbed, be deemed to be increased by one so long as such member
continues therein:

Provided that against every such addition, an officiating or temporary vacancy, if

any, in such lower category or grade shall not be filled and such addition shall be absorbed
against first permanent vacancy that subsequently arises in such lower category or grade as
the case may be.
 25

35. Relinquishment of right by members:- Any person may, in writing, relinquish any
right or privilege to which he may be entitled under these Rules; and nothing contained in
these Rules shall be deemed to require the recognition of any right or privilege to the
extent to which it has been so relinquished.
36. Members absent from duty:- The absence of a member from duty, on leave except
one sanctioned under Appendix XIIA, Appendix XIIB and Appendix XIIC of Part I,
Kerala Service Rules, foreign service or deputation or for any other reason and whether
his lien in a post borne on the cadre of the Service is suspended or not, shall not if he is
otherwise fit, render him ineligible in his turn;
(a) for reappointment to a vacancy in the category in which he may be a probationer;
OR
(b) for promotion from a lower to a higher post in Service.

37. Pay, allowances, leave salary, pension and other conditions of service:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, the compulsory retirement on
superannuation of a member of the Service shall take effect from the afternoon of the
last day of the month in which he attains the age of 58 years.

(2) Subject to these Rules, the Kerala Service Rules, the Government Servants Conduct
Rules, the General Provident Fund (Kerala) Rules and the rules regulating the pay of
the services for the time being in force applicable to the officers under the rule making
power of the Governor or Government of Kerala, as the case may be, shall govern the
members of the Service in the matter of their pay, allowances, leave, leave salary,
pension and other conditions of service:

Provided that except with regard to salaries, allowances, leave and pension, the
Chief Justice shall exercise the powers vested in the Governor or the Government under
any of the aforesaid rules:

Provided further that the Chief Justice shall specifically issue orders sanctioning
the grant of the scales of pay and allowances to the members of the Service in accordance
with those sanctioned by the Government.

Note:- The Chief Justice is the Head of the Department as regards the members of the
Service.
38. (1) High Court shall cause to conduct a Judicial Test (Higher) for the members of
the Service.

(2) The passing of the said test will be treated as equivalent to the qualification of
possessing the Law Degree, for promotion/appointment by transfer to various
posts, except the posts of Registrar General and Registrar (Subordinate Judiciary).

(3) Syllabus for the test shall be framed and notified by the Chief Justice.
 26

(4) The test shall be held once in a year and unless otherwise ordered by the Chief
Justice, it shall be held during the midsummer vacation.

(5) Schedule of the examination for the test, as far as possible, shall be notified at
least three months in advance.

39. Amendment to Rules:-

Amendment to these Rules shall not be made without prior publication and giving
an opportunity for filing representation to the members of the Service.

40. Repeal and Savings:-

(1) The Kerala High Court Service Rules,1970 are hereby repealed. Subject to
the provisions in these Rules, appointment/promotion/exemption orders passed under the
repealed rules shall not in any way be affected by the repeal.

(2) Any dispute or claim for appointment or promotion to vacancies which

arose before the commencement of these rules shall also be dealt with under the
provisions of the repealed rules.

(3) Nothing contained in these rules shall be construed to limit or abridge the
power of the Chief Justice to deal with the case of any member of the service or any
candidate to be appointed to the service in such manner as may appear to him to be just
and equitable:

Provided that, when any such rule is applicable to such member or person, the case
shall not be dealt with in any manner less favourable to him than that provided by that
rule.
 27

ANNEXURE - I

Sub Division
Category

Name of post Qualifications

Methods of Appointment

Division I
1 1 Registrar General Deputation, Direct Recruitment Law degree.
or promotion. In the case of a person recruited
direct, he should be a practising
advocate and should have so
practised for a period of not less
than 7 years.
1 2 Registrar (Subordinate Deputation, Direct Recruitment Law degree
Judiciary) or promotion. In the case of a person recruited
direct, he should be a practising
advocate and should have so
practised for a period of not less
than 7 years.
1 3 Registrar (Vigilance) Deputation from among District
Judges, selected by the Chief
Justice and approved by the Full
Court.
1 4 Director of Kerala Deputation from among District
Judicial Academy Judges
1 5 Additional Director of Deputation from among District
Kerala Judicial Judges
Academy
1 6 Deputy Director of Deputation from among Sub
Kerala Judicial Judges/ Chief Judicial
Academy Magistrates
1 7 Assistant Director of Deputation from among
Kerala Judicial Munsiff-Magistrates
Academy
2 1 Registrar (Judicial) Promotion from among Joint 1. Law degree or Judicial
Registrars and if no suitable Test(Higher)
hand is available for promotion, 2. In the case of a person
by deputation or direct recruited direct, he should be a
recruitment practising advocate and should
have so practised for a period of
 28

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

not less than 7 years.

2 2 Joint Registrar Promotion from among Deputy 1.Law Degree or Judicial Test
Registrars and if no suitable (Higher)
hand is available, by deputation 2.In the case of a person recruited
or direct recruitment. direct, he should be a practising
advocate and should have so
practised for a period of not less
than 7 years.

2. 3 Deputy Registrar Promotion from among Assistant 1.Law degree or Judicial Test
Registrars(Higher Grade) and if (Higher)
no suitable hand is available, by 2.In the case of a person recruited
deputation or direct recruitment. direct, he should be a practising
advocate and should have so
practised for a period of not less
than 7 years.

2 4 Assistant Registrar Promotion from the category of

(Higher Grade) Assistant Registrar

2 5 Assistant Registrar Promotion of Section Officer Educational:-

(Higher Grade)/ Court Officer 1.Law degree or Judicial Test
(Higher Grade), promotion under (Higher)
rule 20(2)(a), deputation or direct 2.In the case of a person recruited
recruitment. direct, he should be a practising
advocate and should have so
practised for a period of not less
than 5 years
Special :
1. Account Test (Lower) or
Account Test for Executive
Officers

2 6 Section Officer (Higher As per rule 20(2)(b)

Grade)/ Court Officer
 29

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

(Higher Grade)

2 7 Section Officer/ Court As per rule 20(2)(b), 20(2)(c) or Educational :

Officer/ Court Fee direct recruitment 1. Law degree or Judicial Test
Examiner (Higher)
Special :
1. High Court Office Procedure
Test
2. Account Test (Lower)
3.Judicial Test or Civil Judicial
Test and Criminal Judicial Test
or law degree or Judicial Test
(Higher)

3 1 Private Secretary to the Appointment by transfer or by 1. Law degree or Judicial Test

Chief Justice deputation. (Higher)
2. K.G.T.E (Higher) in
(The Chief Justice may revert Typewriting(English) and
him to his parent cadre at any K.G.T.E (Higher) in Shorthand
time) (English) or equivalent
qualification.

3 2 Personal Assistant to Appointment by transfer or by 1. University degree

the Chief Justice deputation 2. K.G.T.E (Higher) in
Typewriting(English) and
(The Chief Justice may revert K.G.T.E (Higher) in Shorthand
him to his parent cadre at any (English) or equivalent
time) qualification.

3 3 Additional Personal Appointment by transfer or by Educational:-

Assistant to the Chief deputation University degree
Justice Special :
(The Chief Justice may revert Ten years service in any of the
him to his parent cadre at any categories of Assistants or
time) Personal Assistants to Judges or
 30

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

Confidential Assistants.

4 1 Public Relations Appointment by transfer from University degree

Officer among Assistant Registrar
(Higher Grade), Assistant Desirable:
Registrar, Section Officer(Higher 1. Working knowledge in Hindi
Grade)/Court Officer(Higher and other languages.
Grade.) and from among those 2.Experience in Public relations;
who are holding or have held the 3.Protocol work and tourism
post of Protocol Officer or 4.Familiarity with court
Assistant Protocol Officer or by procedure.
deputation 5.Ability to communicate and
receptiveness to ideas.
(The Chief Justice may revert
him to his parent cadre at any
time)

4 2 Protocol Officer Appointment by transfer from

among Assistant Registrar University degree
(Higher Grade), Assistant
Registrar and Section Desirable:
Officer(Higher Grade)/Court 1. Working knowledge in Hindi
Officer(Higher Grade) and from and other languages.
among those who are holding or 2.Experience in protocol
have held the post of Public work,tourism and public
Relations Officer or Assistant relations.
Protocol Officer or by deputation. 3. Knowledge of stenography
4. Valid driving license for
(The Chief Justice may revert motorcycle and light motor
him to his parent cadre at any vehicle.
time) 4.Familiarity with court
procedure.
5.Ability to communicate and
receptiveness to ideas.
 31

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

4 3 Assistant Protocol Appointment by transfer or by University degree

Officer deputation. Desirable:
1. Working knowledge in Hindi
(The Chief Justice may revert and other languages.
him to his parent cadre at any 2.Experience in protocol
time) work,tourism and public
relations.
3. Knowledge of stenography
4. Valid driving license for two
wheelers and four wheelers.
4.Familiarity with court
procedure.
5.Ability to communicate and
receptiveness to ideas.

5 1 Finance Officer Appointment by transfer from

among Assistant 1.University degree
Registrar(Higher Grade), 2.Account Test(Higher)
Assistant Registrar, Section 3.Must have at least five years
Officer (Higher Grade)/Court experience in accounts and
Officer(Higher Grade.), financial matters.
Accountant, Section
Officer/Court Officer/Court Fee
Examiner or by deputation.
(The Chief Justice may revert
him to his parent cadre at any
time)
5 2 Accountant Appointment by transfer from Educational:-
Section Officer/Court University degree
Officer/Court Fee Examiner. Special :
Account Test (Higher)
(The Chief Justice may revert
him to his parent cadre at any
time)
6 1 Private Secretary to Promotion from among Private
Judge (Higher Grade) Secretary to Judge.

6 2 Private Secretary to Promotion from among Selection

 32

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

Judge Grade Personal Assistant to

Judge.

6 3 Selection Grade Promotion from among Personal

Personal Assistant to Assistant to Judge Grade-I.
Judge

7 1 Chief Librarian Promotion from Librarian,

appointment by transfer, 1. Law degree or Judicial Test
deputation or direct recruitment. (Higher)
2. Degree or diploma in Library
Science

7 2 Librarian Promotion from Reference

Librarian, appointment by 1. Law degree or Judicial Test
transfer, deputation or direct (Higher)
recruitment. 2. Degree or diploma in Library
Science

7 3 Reference Librarian Promotion from Assistant

Librarian, appointment by 1. Law degree or Judicial Test
transfer, deputation or direct (Higher)
recruitment. 2. Degree or diploma in Library
Science

7 4 Assistant Librarian Promotion from Cataloguer,

Appointment by transfer, direct 1. Law degree or Judicial Test
recruitment or deputation. (Higher)
2. Degree or diploma in Library
Science
 33

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

8 1 Security Officer Transfer from Police

Department or direct Must be a Police Officer not
recruitment. below the rank of Circle
Inspector of Police in the case of
appointment by transfer. Must be
an Ex-serviceman with a
University degree and not below
the rank of a Subedar or its
equivalent in the case of direct
recruitment.

9 1 Head Translator Appointment by transfer from Educational:-

among Selection Grade University degree
Assistants who have worked as Special :
Translator or Translator 1. High Court Office Procedure
(Kannada) or promotion from Test
Translator or Translator 2. Account Test (Lower)
(Kannada). 3.Judicial Test or Civil Judicial
Test and Criminal Judicial Test
(The Chief Justice may revert or law degree or Judicial test
him to his parent cadre at any (Higher)
time) 4. Translation test in the case of
direct recruits to be conducted by
the Registrar General.
10 1 Office Superintendent Promotion from among Selection
Grade Typist and Selection Grade 1.Plus Two
Typist Copyist in the ratio of 5 :1. 2. K.G.T.E (Higher) in
While filling up the vacancy, the Typewriting(English)
seniority of those Selection Grade Desirable :
Typists who are included in the Certificate in Computer word
seniority list of Selection Grade processing or equivalent.
Typist Copyists will be calculated
on the basis of their seniority in
 34

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

the category of Selection Grade

Typist.
11 1 Superintendent Deputation from a post not lower
(Vehicles) than that of Assistant Engineer in 1. Degree or diploma in
the Government service or Automobile or Mechanical
appointment by transfer Engineering
2. Valid driving licence for
motorcycle and light motor
vehicle

12 1 Deputy Superintendent Deputation from Police .

of Police Department.

12 2 Circle Inspector of Deputation from Police

Police Department.

12 3 Head Constable Deputation from Police

Department.

12 4 Police Constable Deputation from Police

Department.

Division II

1 1 Selection Grade Promotion from Senior Grade

Assistant Assistant.

1 2 Senior Grade Assistant Promotion from Assistant. Special :

1. High Court Office Procedure
Test
2. Account Test (Lower)
3.Judicial Test or Civil Judicial
Test and Criminal Judicial Test
 35

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

or a law degree or Judicial Test

(Higher).
Exemption :
Those who have completed
ten years of service as Assistant
Grade-II (with effect from
25.3.2006, Assistant) and are
over 40 years of age are
exempted from special tests,
provided the Registrar General
recommends them suitable for
promotion.

1 3 Assistant / Junior Direct Recruitment, appointment

Accountant. by transfer under Rule 20(2)(d), University degree
deputation or recruitment by
transfer.

2 1 Personal Assistant to Promotion from Personal

Judge Grade-I Assistant to Judge Grade-II.

2 2 Personal Assistant to Promotion from Confidential

Judge Grade-II Assistant Grade-II, direct 1. University degree
recruitment, deputation or 2. K.G.T.E (Higher) in
recruitment by transfer. Typewriting(English) and
K.G.T.E (Higher) in Shorthand
(English) or equivalent
qualification
Desirable:
Certificate in computer word
processing or equivalent.

2 3 Confidential Assistant Direct recruitment, deputation or

Grade-II recruitment by transfer. 1. University degree
2. K.G.T.E (Higher) in
Typewriting(English) and
 36

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

K.G.T.E (Higher) in Shorthand

(English) or equivalent
qualification
Desirable:
Certificate in computer word
processing or equivalent.

3 1 Selection Grade Typist Promotion from Senior Grade

Typist.

3 2 Senior Grade Typist Promotion from Typist Grade-I.

3 3 Typist Grade- I Promotion from Typist Grade-II.

3 4 Typist Grade-II Appointment by transfer,

recruitment by transfer or direct 1.Plus Two or equivalent.
recruitment or recruitment under 2.K.G.T.E(Higher) in
rule 11(2) Typewriting(English)
Desirable:
Certificate in computer word
processing or equivalent.

4 1 Selection Grade Typist Promotion from Senior Grade

Copyist Typist Copyist.

4 2 Senior Grade Typist Promotion from Typist Copyist

Copyist Grade-I.

4 3 Typist Copyist Grade-I Promotion from Typist Copyist

Grade-II.

4 4 Typist Copyist Grade-II Appointment by transfer or direct

recruitment or recruitment under Plus Two or equivalent,
rule 11(2). K.G.T.E(Higher) in
Typewriting(English)
 37

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

Desirable:
Certificate in computer word
processing or equivalent.

5 1 Translator Appointment by transfer or direct Educational:

recruitment. 1. University degree
Special :
(The Chief Justice may revert 1. High Court Office Procedure
him to his parent cadre at any Test
time) 2. Account Test (Lower)
3.Judicial Test or Civil Judicial
Test and Criminal Judicial Test
or law degree
4. In the case of appointment on
other duty, pass in the translation
test to be conducted by the
Registrar General.
5 2 Translator (Kannada) Appointment by transfer or Educational:
direct recruitment. 1. University degree
Special :
(The Chief Justice may revert 1. High Court Office Procedure
him to his parent cadre at any Test
time) 2. Account Test (Lower)
3.Judicial Test or Civil Judicial
Test and Criminal Judicial Test
or law degree
4. A qualification in Kannada
5. Translation Test in Kannada in
the case of direct recruits
6 1 Cataloguer Promotion from Senior Grade
Library Assistant, Appointment 1. University degree
by transfer or direct recruitment. 2.A degree or diploma in Library
Science

6 2 Senior Grade Library Promotion from Higher Grade

 38

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

Assistant Library Assistant.

6 3 Higher Grade Library Promotion from Library

Assistant Assistant.

6 4 Library Assistant Appointment by transfer or direct

recruitment. 1. University degree
2.A degree or diploma in Library
Science

7 1 Overseer Grade-I Appointment by transfer,

deputation or direct recruitment. 1. Plus Two or equivalent
2. Degree/ Diploma in Electrical
Engineering.

8 1 Senior Grade Promotion from Chauffeur

Chauffeur Grade-I.

8 2 Chauffeur Grade-I Promotion from Chauffeur

Grade-II.

8 3 Chauffeur Grade-II Appointment by

transfer,deputation, recruitment 1.SSLC
by transfer or direct recruitment. 2. Valid Light Motor Vehicle
driving licence

9 1 Motor Car Mechanic Appointment by transfer,

Grade-II deputation or direct recruitment. 1.SSLC
2. Diploma or I.T.I certificate in
Automobile Engineering.
3.Valid Light Motor Vehicle
driving licence
4.Two years practical experience
in repairs and maintenance of
motor vehicles in a recognised
automobile workshop
 39

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

10 1 Clerical Assistant Promotion from Clerical

(Higher Grade) Assistant.

10 2 Clerical Assistant Appointment by transfer or direct

recruitment under rule 11(2) Plus Two or equivalent.

11 1 Telephone Operator Appointment by transfer or direct 1.Plus Two or equivalent

recruitment under rule 11(2) 2.Diploma in Electronics
awarded by an Institution
recognised by the Government
3. Six months' experience as
Telephone
Operator/Receptionist and in
Computer operation.
4. Fluency in English, Malayalam
and Hindi

12 1 Photo Copier Operator Promotion from Duplicator

Operator. 1. S.S.L.C or equivalent
2. Experience in the operation of
Photocopier or qualifications
helpful in the operation of
Photocopier.

12 2 Duplicator Operator Appointment by transfer,

deputation or direct recruitment S.S.L.C or equivalent
under rule 11(2).

13 1 Binder (Higher Grade) Promotion from Binder

13 2 Binder Appointment by transfer or direct 1. Pass in Standard VIII or
recruitment under rule 11(2) equivalent
2. Pass K.G.T.E in Book
Binding(Lower) or equivalent
( In the absence of candidates
possessing this qualification,
persons with 18 months
experience in book binding may
 40

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

be appointed, provided they

prove their proficiency in book
binding at a practical test.)
13 3 Electrician-cum- Appointment by transfer, 1.S.S.L.C or equivalent
Plumber deputation or direct recruitment. 2. I.T.I certificate in the trades of
Electrician or Wireman and
licence in plumbing.

13 4 Plumber Appointment by transfer,

deputation or direct recruitment. 1. S.S.L.C or equivalent
2. I.T.I. Certificate in plumbing
and licence in plumbing.

13 5 Lift Operator Appointment by transfer or

direct recruitment under rule 1. S.S.L.C or equivalent
11(2). 2. Experience in the operation of
lift or qualification helpful in the
operation of lift

13 6 Carpenter Appointment by transfer or

deputation or direct recruitment. 1.Pass in Standard VIII or
equivalent
2. I.T.I certificate in the trade of
Carpentry or equivalent
qualification or ten years'
experience as Carpenter

14 1 Care Taker Appointment by transfer or direct

recruitment. 1.Plus Two or equivalent.
2.Degree or Diploma in Hotel
and Catering Management
awarded by a recognised
institution.
3.Should be healthy and free
from contagious diseases.
 41

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

15 1 Attender Grade I Promotion from Attender Grade

II

15 2 Attender Grade II Appointment by transfer or direct

recruitment. S.S.L.C. or equivalent

Division III

1 1 Civil Sergeant Promotion from Duffadar Studied upto S.S.L.C. or

equivalent
(preference will be given to those
who possesses a good
personality)

Division IV

1 1 Head Gardener Promotion from Gardener.

1 2 Gardener Appointment by transfer or direct

recruitment under rule 11(2). 1.Studied upto S.S.L.C or
equivalent
2. Diploma in Gardening
(Preference will be given to those
having experience in horticulture
and/or experience of work in
farm)
 42

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

3. Good physique
1 3 Helper Appointment by transfer or direct
recruitment. 1. SSLC or equivalent
2. I.T.I certificate in the trades of
Electrical or Mechanical
Engineering or equivalent

1 4 Duffadar Promotion from Court Keeper. S.S.L.C

1 5 Court Keeper Appointment by transfer 1.Studied upto S.S.L.C. or

equivalent
2.Willingness to work day and
night as directed
3.Good physique.

1 6 Higher Grade Peon/ Promotion from Peon,

Last Grade Employee Watchman, Vacuum Cleaner
Grade I Operator, Sweeper-Cum- Peon,
Sweeper, Sanitation Worker and
Cook.

1 7 Peon Direct recruitment or Transfer

from Sub Division 8 to 13 in Pass in standard VIII
Division IV or deputation or
Direct recruitment under rule
11(2) or appointment under rule
20(2)(f).
(On the application of a member
belonging to the categories of
Vacuum Cleaner Operator,
Watchman, Cook, Sweeper-cum-
Peon, Sweeper and Sanitation
Worker, he shall be considered
for appointment as Peon in the
ratio of 1:3 between such
appointment and direct
recruitment provided he is found
suitable and qualified to hold the
 43

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

latter post and has served for at

least 5 years in any of the
aforementioned categories. For
such appointment qualifications
prescribed in column 5 of this
Annexure shall not be insisted)

1 8 Vacuum Cleaner Appointment by transfer or 1. Pass in Standard VIII or

Operator direct recruitment. equivalent
2. Good physique
1 9 Watchman Appointment by transfer or direct 1. Pass in Standard VIII or
recruitment. equivalent
2. Good physique
3. Willingness to work day and
night as directed.
1 10 Cook Appointment by transfer or direct 1. Pass in Standard VIII or
recruitment. equivalent
2. Certificate in cookery from a
reputed institution
3. Willingness to work day and
night
4. Must be free from contagious
diseases.
1 11 Sweeper-cum-Peon Appointment by transfer from
Sweeper or Sanitation Worker or 1. Pass in Standard VIII or
recruitment by transfer from Part- equivalent
time Sweeper or Part-time 2. Good physique
Sanitation Worker in the High 3. Willingness to work day and
Court or direct recruitment. night.
1 12 Sweeper Appointment by transfer from
Sweeper-cum Peon or Sanitation 1. Pass in Standard VIII or
Worker or recruitment by transfer equivalent
from Part-time Sweeper or Part- 2. Good physique
time Sanitation Worker or direct
recruitment.
1 13 Sanitation Worker Appointment by transfer from
Sweeper-cum Peon or Sweeper or 1. Pass in Standard VIII or
 44

Sub Division
Category
Name of post Qualifications
Methods of Appointment

recruitment by transfer from Part- equivalent

time Sweeper or Part-time 2. Good physique
Sanitation Worker or direct
recruitment.
 45

ANNEXURE – II

Sl. Penalty Class of Officer Authority which

No. may impose
Penalty
1 Censure Division I - All categories Chief Justice

Division II,III and IV- All categories Registrar General

2 Fine (in the case of
members of Division IV Division IV – All categories Registrar General
only)
3 Withholding of Division I – All categories Chief Justice
increments

Division II,III and IV- All categories Registrar General

4 Withholding of
All Divisions and all categories Chief Justice
promotion
5 (a) Recovery from pay of All categories in Division I Chief Justice
pecuniary loss
(b) Recovery from pay of All other categories and Divisions Registrar General
increment withheld
6 Reduction to a lower rank Division I and II – All categories Chief Justice
in the seniority list or to a
lower post or time scale
or to a lower stage in the Division III and IV – All categories Registrar General
time scale
7 Reduction of pension All categories in all Divisions Chief Justice
8 Compulsory retirement All categories in all Divisions Chief Justice
9 Removal from service All categories in all Divisions Chief Justice
10 Dismissal from service All categories in all Divisions Chief Justice