IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR.S.R.BANNURMATH & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.K.BASHEER MONDAY, THE 16TH NOVEMBER 2009 / 25TH KARTHIKA 1931 WA.No. 1824 of 2009 --------------------- AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT IN WPC.2007/2007 Dated 19/03/2009 .................... APPELLANT/PETITIONER IN WPC: ------------------------------------ THE GOVERNMENT SERVANTS HOSTEL- INMATES WELFARE ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY SURESH BABU M.T., GOVERNMENT SERVANTS HOSTEL, KOZHIKODE. BY ADV. SRI.V.V.NANDAGOPAL NAMBIAR SMT.PREEJA. P.VIJAYAN RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS: ---------------------------------- 1. THE STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, GOVT.SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE CHIEF ENGINEER (BUILDING & LOCAL WORKS), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY SENIOR GOVT. PLEADER, SMT. K. MEERA. THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 16/11/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.R.Bannurmath, C.J. & A.K. Basheer, J. ------------------------------------------ W.A. No.1824 of 2009 ------------------------------------------ Dated this the 16th day of November, 2009 JUDGMENT S.R.Bannurmath, C.J. This writ appeal is directed against the judgment of the learned Single Judge dated 19th March, 2009 in W.P.(C) No.2007 of 2007. 2. The petitioner Association has challenged Exts.P2 and P7 orders by which the subsidised monthly rents payable by the government servants who are in occupation of Government Hostels have been revised. In this regard, on an earlier occasion when such a revision was sought, it was challenged before this Court in O.P.No.32395 of 2002 and by judgment Ext.P3, the Government was directed to consider the claim of the petitioners and like persons in occupation of the Government Hostels. 3. Admittedly, inspite of making representation, none of the members of the petitioner Association has appeared before the Government and as such the impugned order Ext.P7 was passed as long back as in the year 2006. By looking into Ext.P7, there is a W.A. No.1824 of 2009 - 2 - noting of the Government that the Legislative Committee for the Welfare of Women, Children and Physically Handicapped, pointed out that the rents fixed for Government Hostels are very low, the rents fixed in the year 1973 at the rate of Rs.25/- and Rs.20/- in respect of double and single occupancy was enhanced to Rs.100/- and Rs.60/- respectively in the year 1988 which is now sought to be increased to Rs.500 and Rs.675/- respectively. Noting the fact that the pay of the Government employees has been revised several times in the pay scales since then and as the rents have been fixed long back and considering the increase in electricity charges, water charges, maintenance costs, etc. which were not considerable then, the Government has thought it fit to revise the rents proportionately. 4. The learned Single Judge considering all these aspects in detail has held that the action of the Government is just and proper, especially considering the fact that the rents fixed earlier were too low and that too nearly two decades back. 5. On going through the impugned judgment as well as the records, we find that there is absolutely no illegality or perversity W.A. No.1824 of 2009 - 3 - in the impugned order passed by the learned Single Judge rejecting the appellant's contentions. Hence, we find the writ appeal as devoid of merits and the same is rejected. S.R.Bannurmath, Chief Justice A.K. Basheer, Judge vns