Sreelakshmi P.B. v. Kerala State Pollution Control Board

Engineers of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board transferred to Head Office, one along with her post — Challenge on grounds of want of power in the Chairperson, breach of the work distribution order, mala fides and punitive transfer — Transfer is the employer’s prerogative; courts lack judicially manageable standards for personnel management — Factual mala fides cannot be urged when the person accused is not impleaded in her personal capacity — Chairperson, exercising powers of general administration delegated under S. 11A, competent to transfer incumbents, independently or along with posts, in the exigencies of service — Transfers shown to meet staff shortage at Head Office — Appeals dismissed — Appreciation recorded for junior counsel’s arguments.

Whether the transfer order dated 07.07.2026 moving the appellants to the Board’s Head Office at Thiruvananthapuram was liable to be interfered with under Article 226, on grounds of want of power, breach of the work distribution order, mala fides or punitive intent. [Paras 2, 4]