IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.T.RAVIKUMAR WEDNESDAY, THE 19TH MAY 2010 / 29TH VAISAKHA 1932 WP(C).No. 15300 of 2010(J) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. DR.JAGANNADH.V., LECTURER IN ZOOLOGY, ST.PETER'S COLLEGE, KOLENCHERY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. 2. DR.BENOJ MATHEW, LECTURER IN BOTANY ST.PETER'S COLLEGE, KOLENCHERY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.P.R.PADMANABHAN NAIR RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, TRIVANDRUM. 2. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION, CENTRAL ZONE, ERNAKULAM. 3. REGISTRAR, MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY ATHIRAMPUZHA, KOTTAYAM-686 560. 4. SECRETARY, UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION, BAHADOORSHAH ZAFAR MARG, NEW DELHI-110 002. 5. THE PRINCIPAL, ST.PETER'S COLLEGE, KOLENCHERY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT. ADV. SRI.S.KRISHNAMOORTHY, CGC FOR R4 SRI.T.A SHAJI, SC, M.G.UNIVERSITY THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 19/05/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: C.T. RAVIKUMAR, J. -------------------------------------------- W.P.(C). NO. 15300 OF 2010 -------------------------------------------- Dated this the 19th day of May, 2010 JUDGMENT The petitioners are working as Lecturers in St.Peter's College, Kolenchery in Ernakulam District. As per Ext.P6 order dated 7.9.2000, the M.G. University decided to implement the scheme of the University Grants Commission extending four and two advance increments to Lecturers who possessed Doctorate Degree at the time of their appointment. In fact, it provides for granting of four advance increments for Ph.D Degree holders and two advance increments for M.Phil Degree holders, provided they possessed the said degrees at the time of their recruitment as Lecturers. According to them, in terms of the said order, they should have been granted the benefit of four advance increments. However, as per Ext.P11order, the claims of the petitioners for advance increments were rejected by the second respondent. It is contended that pursuant to a judgment of this Court in W.P.(C).No.27658/2007 (Ext.P12), the claims of certain similarly situated persons for advance increments were considered by the Government and, subsequently, as per Ext.P13 order, Government W.P.(C) NO.15300/2010 2 have sanctioned advance increments to the petitioners therein. The contention of the petitioners is that they are similarly situated to the petitioners in the said Writ Petition and therefore, they are also entitled to get a similar treatment. In short, according to the petitioners, Ext.P11 is unsustainable. 2. Raising such claims and contentions, the petitioners have approached the first respondent through Ext.P14 representation. However, no orders have been passed thereon and it is still pending before the first respondent. 3. The first respondent is competent to look into the grievances raised by the petitioners in Ext.P14 and there is no reason for the first respondent to delay consideration of Ext.P14 representation. Therefore, this Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to the first respondent to consider and pass orders on Ext.P14 representation submitted by the petitioners expeditiously, and in accordance with the scheme of the University Grants commission as implemented in the M.G.University, at W.P.(C) NO.15300/2010 3 any rate, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. It will only be appropriate for the first respondent to look into Ext.P13 while passing orders on Ext.P14 representation. (C.T. RAVIKUMAR, JUDGE) spc W.P.(C) NO.15300/2010 4 C.T. RAVIKUMAR, J. W.P.(C). NO.15300/2010 JUDGMENT 19th May, 2010 W.P.(C) NO.15300/2010 5