IN THE HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAINITAL Writ Petition No. 423 of 2008 (M/S) Abhishek S/o Sri Vijendra Singh Yadav R/o 7/39, Canal Colony, Muzaffarnagar, U.P. Presently residing at R.No. 156, C.B. –I, Pantnagar, District U.S. Nagar. …………… Petitioner Versus 1. State of Uttarkhand through Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Civil Secretariat, Uttarakhand, at Dehradun. 2. Secretary Higher Education Uttarakhand Government, Civil Secretariat, Dehradun. 3. Vice Chancellor G.B. Pant University of Agriculture And technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar. 4. Registrar, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar. ………… Respondents Mr. S.K. Mandal, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. K.P. Upadhyaya, Addl. C.S.C. for respondents No. 1 & 2. Mr. G.D. Joshi, Advocate holding brief of Mr. Rajendra Dobhal, Advocates for respondents No. 3 and 4. Hon’ble Prafulla C. Pant, J. By means of this writ petition, the petitioner has sought writ in the nature of mandamus, directing the respondents to enhance the monthly internship allowance from Rs. 800/- per month to Rs. 4,500/- per month for the period of internship in BVSc. and AH in the G.B. Pant University, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar. 2) Heard learned counsel for the parties. 3) Brief facts of the case, as narrated in the writ petition, are that the petitioner is a student of BVSc and AH Degree Course of 2003 Batch in the respondent University. He along with other students completed 10 semester Degree course successfully in the year 2008, and undergoing rotational internship training programme, since January 2008. The grievance of the petitioner is that the approved allowance of internship for the period of six months for interns was fixed at Rs. 800/- per month about 18 years back. It has not been enhanced ignoring the increase in the cost of living, since then. The meager amount of Rs. 800/- per month to the interns, according to the petitioner cannot be said, from any stretch of imagination to be sufficient to meet the expenses of boarding and lodging of the interns. Citing the case of Agricultural University of Hissar, it is stated in the writ petition that there the interns are being paid Rs. 4,500/- per month for the similar courses, which is more than 5 times to what the petitioner and other students are getting in the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar. It is further stated that representation was made by the petitioner and other students to the authorities concerned, but to no avail. 4) Respondents No. 1 and 2 did not file any counter affidavit, even after being given sufficient opportunity, on 18.07.2008. On behalf of respondents No. 3 and 4, counter affidavit has been filed, in which it has been stated that the University has no authority to increase the internship allowance at its end for it is for the Indian Council of Agriculture Research and the State Government to increase the same. However, a copy of letter dated 11.02.2008 is annexed as Annexure C.A. 2 to the counter affidavit which shows that the University has already recommended to the Government of Uttarakhand to increase the internship allowance to Rs. 4,500/- out of which Rs. 400/- would be borne by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research and Rs. 4,100/- may be borne by the State Government. 5) It appears that the State Government has not taken any decision on the recommendation made by the G.B. Pant University to the Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Uttarakhand. 6) Having heard learned counsel for the parties and after going through the papers on record, in the above circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of summarily with the direction that the respondent No. 1 may take a decision on the recommendation made by the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, made in its letter dated 11.02.2008, within a period of three months, from the date certified copy of this Order is produced before such authority. (Interim Relief Application No. 989 of 2008 as well as Impleadment Application No. 7919 of 2008 both stands disposed of). (Prafulla C. Pant, J.) Dt. November 28, 2008. H.Negi