IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN WEDNESDAY, THE 20TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 1ST PHALGUNA 1929 WP(C).No. 5936 of 2008(F) ------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ 1. S.SATHIAMMA, W/O.G.UNNIKRISHNAN, RETIRED AS SELECTION GRADE LECTURER IN HINDI, TKM COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE, KOLLAM-5, RESIDING AT: SREE RASHOI, MUNDAKKAL WEST, KOLLAM-1. 2. JAMEELA BEEVI, W/O.LATE S.KHADAR, RETIRED AS SELECTION GRADE LECTURER IN CHEMISTRY, TKM COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE, KOLLAM-5, RESIDING AT: HAMASATH, HOUSE NO. 10, FARIDIYA NAGAR, TKMC (PO), KOLLAM-5. 3. K.VASANTHA LETHA, W/O.T.K.SASIDHARAN, RETIRED AS SELECTION GRADE LECTURER IN CHEMISTRY, TKM COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE, KOLLAM-5, RESIDING AT: SATHI MANDHIRAM, KANNIMMELCHERRY, KILIKOLLOOR (PO), KOLLAM-4. BY ADV. SRI.M.V.THAMBAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION, VIKAS BHAVAN, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION, KOLLAM. 3. THE PRINCIPAL, T.K.M.COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE, T.K.M.C. (PO), KOLLAM-5. 4. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVT., DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. A.J. VARGHESE. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20/02/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN, J. ------------------------------------ W.P.(C)No.5936 OF 2008 ---------------------------------------- Dated this the 20th day of February, 2008 JUDGMENT The petitioners are retired College Lecturers. In this writ petition, they are aggrieved by fixation of pay in accordance with the UGC Scheme. According to the petitioners, when their pay was fixed as on 1.1.1996 the pay fixed for them was less than that fixed for the juniors of the petitioners. Therefore they want stepping up of their pay at par with that of their juniors. 2. I am not inclined to entertain this writ petition on the ground of unexplained delay and laches. Admittedly the petitioners retired from service in 2000 and 1999 respectively. The fixation of pay was still earlier while they were in service. Now we are in 2008. No satisfactory explanation is forthcoming for the undue delay in raising their claim within a reasonable period. Therefore I am not inclined to exercise my discretionary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in favour of the petitioners who have slept over their rights at W.P.(c) No.5936/08 2 least for a period of more than 7 years. In the above circumstances, the writ petition is dismissed on account of unexplained delay and laches. S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE Acd