IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN WEDNESDAY, THE 30TH JANUARY 2008 / 10TH MAGHA 1929 WP(C).No. 1610 of 2008(N) ---------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ DR.V.THANKAMANY, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT(UNDER SUSPENSION), DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECH, KERALA UNIVERSITY. BY ADV. SRI.P.VIJAYAKUMAR RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. UNIVERSITY OF KERALA, REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR, KARIAVATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DR.C.ARUMUGAM, ENQUIRY OFFICER, (DEPUTY DIRECTOR (RETIRED) & EMERITUS SCIENTIST, RRL), THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. K.SIVARAJAN, ENQUIRY OFFICER, (JOINT SECRETARY(RETIRED)GOVERNMENT OF KERALA) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY ADV. SRI.M.RAJAGOPALAN NAIR, SC, KERALA UTY. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 30/01/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ======================= W.P.(C) No. 1610 of 2008(N) ======================= Dated this the 30th day of January, 2008 JUDGMENT Disciplinary proceedings has been initiated by the University against the petitioner who is a Reader in Bio-Chemistry. A committee of enquiry officers consisting of two persons have been appointed to conduct the disciplinary enquiry. Before the enquiry officers, the petitioner sought the assistance of a lawyer to conduct the enquiry, which was rejected. The petitioner also wanted the enquiry to be conducted by a retired judge which was also not acceded to. It is under the above circumstances the petitioner has come up with this writ petition. 2. The counsel for the petitioner submits that now petitioner would be satisfied if she is permitted to have the assistance by a lawyer to conduct the enquiry on her behalf. The learned standing counsel submits that the University has no objection in the petitioner engaging a lawyer to conduct the enquiry. In the above circumstances, I direct respondents 2 and W.P.(C) No. 1610/2008/N -2- 3 who are the enquiry officers to permit the petitioner for assistance of a lawyer to conduct the enquiry. The enquiry officers shall adjourn the enquiry by two weeks to enable the petitioner to engage a lawyer and to arrange her defence in the enquiry appropriately. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Sd/- S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE jp