IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN TUESDAY, THE 16TH MARCH 2010 / 25TH PHALGUNA 1931 WP(C).No. 8604 of 2010(A) --------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ------------------------ 1. SUDHARMINI.S, ASSISTANT PFORESSOR IN ENTOMOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE, MEDICAL COLLEGE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. P. MADHUSOODHANA KURUP, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN HEALTH EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE, MEDICAL COLLEGE, ALAPPUZHA. 3. K. VIJAYAKUMAR, LECTURER IN MEDICO SOCIOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE, MEDICAL COLLEGE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADVS. DR.K.P.SATHEESAN, MR.K.K.GOPINATHAN NAIR, MR.M.R.JAYAPRASAD MR.P.MOHANDAS (ERNAKULAM), MR.MATHEW SUNNY. RESPONDENT(S): ---------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (S) DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL EDUCATION, MEDICAL EDUCATION SERVICES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. R1 & R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR. T.T. MUHAMOOD THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 16/03/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss S. SIRI JAGAN, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C)No. 8604 of 2010 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 16th day of March, 2010 J U D G M E N T The petitioners are members of the Non-Medical Faculty of the Medical Education Department of the Government of Kerala. They are working as Assistant Professors in Entomology, Community Medicine and Medical Sociology. They are not medical graduates. But according to them they are also performing exactly the same duties and functions of Assistant Professors who are M.B.B.S graduates in the matter of teaching in their particular branch of medicine. The Government has recently enhanced the retirement age of members of the Medical Faculty in Medical Education Department. According to the petitioners, since the duties and functions of both medical and non-medical faculties are exactly identical non-medical faculties are also entitled to the same benefits as extended to medical faculties in the matter of W.P.(C)No. 8604 of 2010 -2- retirement age. Seeking this relief the petitioners have submitted Ext.P3 representation before the Government. They seek a direction to the Government to consider and pass orders on Ext.P3 as expeditiously as possible. They also seek stay of their retirement in the meanwhile. I have heard the learned Government Pleader also. In the facts and circumstances of the case, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the 1st respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P3 as expeditiously as possible, at any rate within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment, after affording an opportunity of being heard to the petitioners. The retirement of the petitioners would be subject to the orders passed on Ext.P3. S. SIRI JAGAN JUDGE shg/