THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government's decision to regularise 1850 temporary employees in the newly formed Kerala Bank has received a setback from the High Court. The court has stayed the decision. The stay was granted on a petition filed by PSC rank holders. The government had decided to regularise employees holding various posts, including the manager, from tomorrow.

The petition was filed by A Lijith, a native of Kannur and a candidate in the PSC rank list. Vacancies were reported to PSC when they were district banks. But when these were merged into Kerala Bank in 2019, the vacancies were not reported to PSC. Instead, 1850 temporary appointments were made to the Kerala Bank by the interim governing council. According to Lijith, this resulted in a loss of opportunity for the candidates, including himself.