and Palliative Community Nurse at PHC, Valad under Thavinjal Panchayat, Wayanad, on contract basis from 28/2/2011. The contract was being renewed every year from 2011 till 2021. The latest contract was executed on 2/4/2020, produced as Ext.P1. On expiry of the contract period, the petitioner requested the Grama Panchayat for extension of contract for a further period of one year. The second respondent Panchayat issued a letter dated 31/3/2021 to the Medical officer informing him that the President of the Panchayat had empowered him to take an appropriate decision regarding the post of community nurse, since no new contract of appointment could be made as assembly election was notified and the model code of conduct was in place. Accordingly, her period was extended by the 4th respondent-medical officer till 31/5/2021, with one day break. After the conclusion of the assembly election, she got information that she has been terminated and the Panchayat was proceeding with appointment of another person of their choice. The petitioner placed reliance on G.O.(Ordinary) No.553/2019LSGD dated 7/3/2019, produced as Ext.P4, which laid down the guidelines for engagement of nurses appointed prior to the issuance of it. According to petitioner, by virtue of clause 2.13.3 of Ext.P4, all community nurses who had been on employment should be permitted to continue on contract basis. Petitioner claims that she was
