IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN WEDNESDAY, THE 6TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 17TH MAGHA 1929 WP(C).No. 4279 of 2008(H) ------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ 1. MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY TEACHERS ORGANISATION, REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY DR.T.V.THULASEEDHARAN, PRIYADARSHINI HILLS P.O. KOTTAYAM. 2. DR. N.RAJEEVKUMAR READER (CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY) SCHOOL OV BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY, PRIYADARSHINI HILLS P.O KOTTAYAM. BY ADV. SRI.KRB.KAIMAL (SR.) SRI.ANIL K.NAIR SRI.B.UNNIKRISHNA KAIMAL SRI.V.MADHUSUDHANAN SRI.PRAMJI PAUL VAZHAPPILLY RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR PRIYADARSHINI HILLS P.O., KOTTAYAM. 2. DR. M.S.RAZEENA PADMAM PROFESSOR & DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY PRIYADARSHINI HILLS P.O., KOTTAYAM. 3. DR. P.S.SUKUMARAN, READER SCHOOL OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY PRIYADARSHINI HILLS P.O., KOTTAYAM. BY SRI. T.A. SHAJI - SC THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 06/02/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN, J. ------------------------------------ W.P.(C)No.4279 OF 2008 ---------------------------------------- Dated this the 6th day of February, 2008 JUDGMENT The petitioner is challenging Exts.P2, P4 and P7. Ext.P2 is dated 19.1.1991. Ext.P4 is dated 26.10.1994. Ext.P7 is dated 12.2.2007. The only explanation given by the petitioners for the long delay is that the petitioners knew that respondents 2 and 3 do not possess the necessary qualification for the post, only now. That is not a ground for explaining the long delay. It was the duty of the petitioners to ascertain these matters at the time of appointment itself, and to challenge the appointment without delay. Therefore I am not inclined to entertain this writ petition because of the unexplained delay and laches. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed for unexplained delay and laches. I also record the submission of standing counsel for the University that this writ petition is really in the nature of a public interest litigation and this Court would not ordinarily entertain public interest litigation in service matters. S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE Acd