High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDisposed of with directions to re-examine pay r...

W.P.(C) Nos. 37590/2017, 41113/2017 & 1109/2018 (Kerala High Court)

Case / Petition Number:WP(C) Nos. 37590/2017; 41113/2017; 1109/2018

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • V.G. Arun
Judgment Date
2022-05-13
Court Decision / Holding
Writ petitions disposed of; the court directs the first respondent to reconsider the pay revision issue under Ext.P11, afford opportunity of hearing to the petitioners (and the additional 5th respondent in 41113/2017), and decide expeditiously in strict conformity with the Government order, ignoring any contrary observation in Ext.P12.
Final Disposition
Disposed of with directions to re-examine pay revision per Ext.P11 and hear the petitioners, expeditiously decide in line with the Government order; Ext.P12 to be given no overriding effect in this context.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Ullas A.
  • P.K. Rajendran
  • E.O. Mathai
  • T.S. Prakash
  • Rugmani C.
  • N. Rajan
  • K.A. Thankachan
  • M.S. Santosh Kumar
  • Thomas I.O.
  • T.P. John
  • P.S. Kadeeja
  • Simon T.O.
  • C.P. Ummer
  • V.L. Alphonsa
  • A.V. Chamy
  • K.Krishnadasan
  • Suresh M.K.
  • C.B. Sajy
  • T.P. Valsan
  • Vasantha Kumari
  • Prasan nakumari?
  • Selin N.S.
  • Savithry R.
  • Joshi K Varughese
  • Chandri C.P.
  • Vidya Badran
  • Beena C.N
  • Grish Kumar S
  • Lalan R

Respondents

  • Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (JNTBGRI)
  • JNTBGRI represented by its Director
  • Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE)
  • State of Kerala represented by the Principal Secretary, Science & Technology Department
  • Herald Wilson (Addl. Respondent 5)

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Sri. Thampan Thomas
  • • Sri. Jacob Chacko
  • • Sri. B.V. Joy Sanker

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri.V. Venugopal
  • • Addl. R5: R. Pradeep
  • • M. Bindudas
  • • K.C. Harish
  • • Sri. Anoop P.V. (SC, CWRDM)

Case Synopsis & Summary

The Kerala High Court, in a consolidated hearing of W.P.(C) Nos. 37590/2017, 41113/2017 and 1109/2018, delivered on 13 May 2022 by Justice V.G. Arun, examines whether employees at the Kerala State Council for Science and Technology and its affiliated institutions, who were regularised against sanctioned posts after starting as daily wagers or contract staff, are entitled to pay revisions sanctioned by Government Order GO MS No.6/2017/S&TD (Ext.P11). The petitioners argue that regularisation during 2010–2014, ratified by the Council and the Executive Committee, created a legitimate expectation for pay revision, and that Ext.P12’s hold–back on revision contradicts Ext.P11. The respondents counter that backdoor regularisation violates the Supreme Court’s Uma Devi doctrine and Retired Teachers and Employees Union, undermining any vested right to pay revision. They rely on Ext.P11’s clauses (i), (k) and (o), and contend that pay revision cannot apply to posts created or regularised without proper Government sanction. The Court recognizes the petitioners’ long–standing regularisation and the government’s involvement in the process but finds Ext.P12 inconsistent with Ext.P11. It directs the first respondent to re–examine the pay revision issue under Ext.P11, grant an opportunity for hearing, and issue a reasoned decision expeditiously, strictly in accordance with the government order. The judgment frames a nuanced balance between statutory safeguards and administrative regularisation while safeguarding petitioners’ rights to prompt consideration of pay revision.

Provisions of Law Cited

G.O.(MS) No.6/2017/S&TD (17-10-2017)Ext.P11 Government Order (G.O.MS No.06/2017/S&TD)Clauses (i), (k) and (o) of Ext.P11Ext.P12 No.610/C1/2016/KSCSTE (27-10-2017)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners contended that their service was regularised against sanctioned posts long back, with Government concurrence and ratification by the Executive Committee. They asserted a vested right to pay revision under Ext.P11 (G.O. 6/2017/S&TD) and argued that Ext.P12’s abeyance order contravened the terms of Ext.P11. They emphasized that regularisation decisions involved Council leadership including the Chief Minister and Secretaries, and were subsequently ratified, indicating government awareness and consent. They urged the Court to read Ext.P11 and Ext.P12 harmoniously, to ensure pay revision for those regularised against sanctioned posts, and to afford due process (hearing) before any denial. respondents: The respondents argued that backdoor regularisation violates the Uma Devi (2006) principle, casting doubt on any right to continue in service or get pay revisions. They relied on Ext.P11’s clauses (i), (k) and (o), which bar creation/appointment without prior Government approval and restrict pay revision to posts created with sanction. They maintained that petitioners held no vested right to pay revision since their regularisation occurred without government sanction, and the District Court must uphold the Government’s compliance with the Uma Devi dictum and Retired Teachers decision.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents asserted that backdoor regularisation through regularisation without government sanction breaches Uma Devi principles. They argued that pay revision cannot be granted for posts created without prior sanction and that regularisation itself was not properly sanctioned. They stressed that the Government’s Ext.P12 communication and Ext.P11 conditions govern the approach to pay revision and that only those posts created with prior approval should qualify for revision. They also contended that the decision to regularise staff and pay revision should be measured against statutory orders, and that the petitioners’ claims did not arise from sanctioned posts. They asked the Court to uphold the government’s policy and the absence of vested rights for those regularised without prior sanction.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
State of Karnataka and others v. Uma Devi and others2006(4) SCC 1Mentioned OnlyCited to reflect the argument that pay revision or continued service can be constrained by Supreme Court guidance on backdoor appointments; the court neither endorses nor overrules it in its ultimate relief.
Retired Teachers and Employees Union and others v. State of Kerala and others2012 (1) KHC 323Mentioned OnlyCited to support the proposition that employees may not have an inherent vested right to pay revision; the court does not adopt or overrule this stance but uses it as part of the reasons advanced by respondents.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN** **FRIDAY, THE 13[TH] DAY OF MAY 2022 / 23RD VAISAKHA, 1944** ## **WP(C) NO. 37590 OF 2017** ## **PETITIONER/S:** ULLAS A. AGED 42 YEARS AGED 42, S/O. ALI, NOW WORKING AS GARDENER,JAWAHARLAL NAHRU TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN &RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PALODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,RESIDING AT BLOCK NO.2, ALAYIL, TBG JUNCTION,KARIMANKODE P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 592. BY ADVS. SRI.R.BINDU (SASTHAMANGALAM) SRI.PRASANTH M.P ## **RESPONDENT/S:** 1 THE DIRECTOR JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN &RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PALODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 562. 2 JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN RESEARCH INSTITUTE PALODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 562,REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR. 3 THE KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT,SASTHA BHAVAN, PATTOM P.O.,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 004,REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY. 4 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001. BY ADVS. SRI.C.K.KARUNAKARAN SC FOR (TBGARI) GOVERNMENT PLEADER PREMCHAND R NAIR (SR.) THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 07.03.2022, ALONG WITH WP(C).1109/2018 AND WP(C)41113/2017, THE COURT ON 13.05.2022 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -2- ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN** **FRIDAY, THE 13[TH] DAY OF MAY 2022 / 23RD VAISAKHA, 1944** ## **WP(C) NO. 41113 OF 2017** ## **PETITIONER/S:** 1 P.K. RAJENDRAN AGED 55 YEARS AGED 55 YEARS, S/O.P.M.KOCHUKUNJU, DRIVER, KFRI, RESIDING AT PUTHENVEEDU, VILENGANNOOR, PEECHI ROAD, THRISSUR. 2 E.O.MATHAI AGED 56 YEARS AGED 56 YEARS, S/O.LATE E.V.OUSEPH, DRIVER, KFRI, RESIDING AT EDAPPARA HOUSE, BETHENY ROAD, VILANGANNOOR, PEECHI, THRISSUR-680653. 3 T.S.PRAKASH AGED 54 YEARS AGED 54 YEARS, S/O.SANKARAN, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT THEKKILA HOUSE, KANNARA P.O., VETTILAPARA, THRISSUR-680652. 4 RUGMANI C. AGED 58 YEARS AGED 58 YEARS, W/O.P.PEETHAMBARAN, TYPIST, KFRI, RESIDING AT KOZHIPRA HOUSE, P.O.MANNAMANGALAM, THRISSUR-680014. 5 N.RAJAN AGED 50 YEARS AGED 50 YEARS, S/O.VELAYUDHAN, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT NECHIVETTIL HOUSE, KAPPIL P.O., VANDOOR, MALAPPURAM. 6 K.A.THANKACHAN AGED 52 YEARS AGED 52 YEARS, S/O.AYYAPPAN, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING KALLAMPILLY HOUSE, PLAMUDI P.O., KOTTAPADI, ERNAKULAM-686692. 7 M.S.SANTHOSH KUMAR AGED 46 YEARS AGED 46 YEARS, S/O.SIVARAMAN, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -3- AT MADAMPATH HOUSE, PEECHI P.O., THRISSUR-680653. 8 THOMAS I.O. AGED 56 YEARS AGED 56 YEARS, S/O.OUSEPH, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT NJAIYAN HOUSE, KFRI QTRS 1/25,P.O.PEECHI, THRISSUR. 9 T.P.JOHN AGED 57 YEARS AGED 57 YEARS, S/O.T.A.POLOUSE, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT THOTTUMKARYIL HOUSE, VILANGANUR, PEECHI P.O., THRISSUR-680652. 10 P.S.KADEEJA AGED 49 YEARS AGED 49 YEARS, S/O.SAITHALY, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT POONERI HOUSE, VELYPADAM P.O., VETTINGAPADAM680303. 11 SIMON T.O. AGED 52 YEARS AGED 52 YEARS, S/O.OUSEPH T.C., HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT THARAKAN HOUSE, MANNUTHY P.O., THRISSUR680651. 12 C.P.UMMER AGED 49 YEARS AGED 49 YEARS, S/O.MOIDEEN, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT CHOLAKKAPARAMBIL HOUSE, RAMANKUTH P.O, NILAMBUR670330. 13 V.L.ALPHONSA AGED 57 YEARS AGED 57 YEARS, S/O.LONA, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT VAZHAPPILLY HOUSE, VELYPADAM P.O., THRISSUR-680303. 14 A.V.CHAMY AGED 55 YEARS AGED 55 YEARS, S/O.VELLA, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT KFRI QUARTERS 1/13, PEECHI P.O., THRISSUR. 15 K.KRISHNADASAN AGED 59 YEARS AGED 59 YEARS, S/O.NARAYANAN NAIR, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT KALATHINGAL HOUSE, NILAMBUR P.O.-679329. 16 SURESH M.K. AGED 46 YEARS AGED 46 YEARS, S/O.KOCHUMON M.M., HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT MANGALAN HOUSE, KFRI QUARTERS 1/14,PEECHI, THRISSUR-680653. 17 C.B.SAJY AGED 45 YEARS W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -4- AGED 45 YEARS, S/O.C.G.BALAN, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT CHILLAYIMADATHIL HOUSE, KARADEYALLA, KANNARA P.O., THRISSUR-680652. 18 T.P.VALSAN AGED 50 YEARS AGED 50 YEARS, S/O.T.S.PARAMESWARAN, HELPER, KFRI, RESIDING AT THYVALAPPIL HOUSE, CHOOLISSERY P.O., THRISSUR-680541. BY ADVS. SRI.THAMPAN THOMAS SRI.JACOB CHACKO SRI.B.V.JOY SANKER ## **RESPONDENT/S:** 1 KERALA FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE PEECHI P.O., THRISSUR-680653, KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR. 2 KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT KSCSTE SASTHRA BHAVAN, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN695004, REP. BY ITS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT. 3 MEMBER SECRETARY KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT (KSCSTE), SASTHRA BHAVAN, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN-695004 4 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001. ADDL.R5 HERALD WILSON, AGED 52, S/O.HENTRY, DRIVER, KERALA FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PEECHI, THRISSUR – 680653. NOW RESIDING AT QUARTERS NO.1/12, KERALA FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PEECHI, THRISSUR – 680653 BY ADVS. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.V.VENUGOPAL ADDL. R5-R.T.PRADEEP M.BINDUDAS K.C.HARISH ADDL.R5 IS IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER DATED 8.9.2021 IN I.A.1/2021 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 07.03.2022, ALONG WITH WP(C).1109/2018 AND WP(C) 37590/2017, THE COURT ON 13.05.2022 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -5- ## **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** ## **THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN** ## **FRIDAY, THE 13[TH] DAY OF MAY 2022 / 23RD VAISAKHA, 1944** ## **WP(C) NO. 1109 OF 2018** ## **PETITIONER/S:** 1 VASANTHA KUMARI AGED 55 YEARS AGED 55 YEARS, W/O. LATE VIJAYAKUMAR M,OFFICE ATTENDANT KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONEMNT (KSCSTE),RESIDING AT OOLANVILA, KRA-185,NALANCHIRA P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 015. 2 PRASANNAKUMARI C.S AGED 52 YEARS, W/O. GANGAN, OFFICE ATTENDANT KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONEMNT (KSCSTE),RESIDING AT PERUNTHRA MELA, AIBI BHAVAN, KARIAVATTOM P.O.,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3 SELIN N.S AGED 38 YEARS, W/O.JOY THOMAS, OFFICE ATTENDANT KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONEMNT (KSCSTE),RESIDING AT MECHIRAGATHU HOUSE, MANJAPPARA,THALIKUZHY P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 612. 4 SAVITHRY R AGED 54 YEARS, W/O.LATE RADHAKRISHNAN, OFFICE ATTENDANT KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONEMNT (KSCSTE),RESIDING AT KAVUVILA PUTHENVEEDU,T.C LANE 34, KURAVANKONAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 5 JOSHI K VARUGHESE AGED 37 YEARS, S/O. K.V. VARKEY, OFFICE ATTENDANT KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,SREENIVASA RAMANUJAN INSTITUTE FORBASIC SCIENCES,RESIDING AT KALAYIL HOUE, PUTHUPPALLY P.O.,KOTTAYAM-686 011. 6 CHANDRI C.P AGED 54 YEARS, D/O. CHINDHAMONY,CLERICAL ASSISTANT KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT (KSCSTE),RESIDING AT 57/1038, W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -6- - PARAPPACHANVILA, KALADY,KARAMANA P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM 695 002. - 7 VIDHYA BHADRAN AGED 30 YEARS, W/O. JAYAPRASAD K.R,CLERICAL ASSISTANT,KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONEMNT (KSCSTE),RESIDING AT MUDEETHARA VADAKKATHIL, PUTHIAVILA P.O., ALAPPUZHA 690 531. - 8 BEENA C.N AGED 43 YEARS, W/O. T.D. PRADEEPKUMAR,ASSISTANT SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN INSTITUTE FOR BASIC SCIENCES,RESIDING AT THEKKEDATHU YOGAKSHEMA, OLD BOAT JETTY ROAD, KOTTAYAM-686 001. - 9 GRISH KUMAR S AGED 51 YEARS, S/O. SADASIVAN NAIR M.G,HELPER KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT (KSCSTE),RESIDING AT AMBIKA BHAVAN, MACHEL P.O.,MALAYINKIL VIA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 571. - 10 LALAN R AGED 34 YEARS, S/O. ROBINSON,GARDNER (SKILLED ASSISTANT),JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN & RESEARCH INSTITUTE (JNTBGRI), RESIDING AT BLOCK NO. 14, JAWAHAR COLONY,EX.COLONY P.O., PALODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 562. BY ADVS. SRI.THAMPAN THOMAS SRI.JACOB CHACKO SRI.B.V.JOY SANKER ## **RESPONDENT/S:** - 1 KERALA STAE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE TECHNILOGY AND ENVIRONMENT (KSCSTE),SASTHRA BHAVAN, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,PIN-695 004, REP. BY ITS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT. - 2 MEMBER SECRETARY KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT (KSCSTE),SASTHRA BHAVAN, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-PIN-695 004. - 3 SRINIVASA RAMANUJAN INSTITUTE FOR BASIC SCIENCES SRIBS VELLOOR P.O., PAMPADY, KOTTAYAM-686 501,REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR. W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -7- 4 CENTRE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT CWRDM KUNNAMANGALAM, KOZHIKODE-673 571,REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR 5 JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN RESEARCH INSTITUTE JNTBGRI PALODE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 562,REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR. 6 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695 001. BY ADVS. GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.ANOOP P.V., SC, CWRDM ## **OTHER PRESENT:** SC FOR KSCSTE AND NATPAC P.C.SASIDHARAN; GP VENUGOAPL V AND SR. GP PREMCHAND R. NAIR; ADV. IMAM GRIGORIOS KARAT FOR KFRI THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 07.03.2022, ALONG WITH WP(C).37590/2017 AND 41113/2017, THE COURT ON 13.05.2022 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -8- ## **JUDGMENT** Dated this the 13[th] day of May, 2022 The petitioners are working in various posts in the research institutions under the Kerala State Council for Science and Technology (KSCSTE), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Kerala, constituted in November 2002. Initially, there were six institutions under the KSCSTE undertaking research work in identified domains. The institutions are the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), the Malabar Botanical Garden & Institute for W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -9- Plant Sciences (MBGIPS) and the Kerala School of Mathematics (KSoM). On 19.06.2003, the KSCSTE framed its own rules for regulating the conditions of service and other related matters of the employees in the various institutions under it. 2. The petitioners were appointed to some of the above mentioned institutions, initially on daily wages and thereafter on contractual basis. Their service was later regularised against sanctioned posts. While so, the KSCSTE implemented regular scale of pay for the employees in all its institutions. The benefit of regular scale of pay and revision of pay based on the previous Pay Revision Commission's recommendations was extended to the petitioners along with the other employees. By G.O.(MS) No.6/2017/S&TD dated 17.10.2017, the Government W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -10- approved the proposal for revision of pay and allowances of the employees submitted by the KSCSTE. The approval was granted subject to the condition that no person shall be appointed to any post created without prior approval of the Government and that pay revision will not be allowed for such posts. On its part, the KSCSTE also issued Ext.P12 communication, directing that revision of pay shall not be allowed to those employees whose service was regularised without Government approval. This resulted in the petitioners being denied the benefit of pay revision, despite their service having been regularised against sanctioned posts long back. Hence, the writ petitions. For the sake of convenience the Exhibits and parties are described as in W.P(c) No. 1109 0f 2018. 3. Advs.Thampan Thomas and R. Bindu W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -11- Sasthamangalam, learned Counsel for the petitioners, submitted that, having regularised the service of the petitioners long back and having implemented regular pay scale and their pay having been revised in accordance with the previous pay revision recommendations, the respondents cannot turn around and deny the benefit of the pay revision sanctioned as per Ext.P11 to the petitioners, on the specious reasoning that their service was regularised without obtaining prior approval from the Government. It is pointed out that the decision to regularise the service of the petitioners was taken by the Council of the KSCSTE consisting of the Chief Minister and other ministers, as also the Secretaries of various Government Departments. The decision was ratified by the Executive Committee with the concurrence of the W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -12- Government. As such, it is not open for the respondents to contend that, regularisation of petitioners' service and grant of consequential benefits is bad for want of Government approval. The further contention is that the interdiction in Ext. P11 Government Order will not apply to the petitioners, as they were appointed against sanctioned posts. 4. Senior Government Pleader V.Venugopal contended that, having made a backdoor entry into public service by clandestinely getting their service regularised, the petitioners have no right to seek the benefit of pay revision. It is contended that the very appointment of the petitioners being in contravention of the specific directions of the Supreme Court in _**State**_ _**of Karnataka and others v. Uma Devi and others**_ _**[2006(4) SCC 1]**_ , their right to continue in W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -13- service itself is doubtful, let alone the right for revision of pay. In the Government order sanctioning pay revision it is specifically stated that the Government had found some disparities in the proposal submitted by the KSCSTE and therefore, only the categories included in the previous pay revision order and posts for which post creation orders were available will be considered for revision. The Government had also indicated that no person should be appointed to posts created without prior sanction and pay revision will not be applicable to the posts created without approval. Reliance is placed on the decision in _**Retired**_ _**Teachers and Employees Union and others v. State of Kerala and others [2012 (1) KHC 323]**_ to contend that an employee has no vested right to demand implementation of the pay revision W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -14- recommendations. 5. Advocates P.C. Sasidharan, C.K. Karunakaran and P.V.Anoop, appearing for the KSCSTE and its institutions, adopted the contentions urged by the learned Government Pleader, Adv.R.T.Pradeep appearing for the additional 5[th] respondent in W.P.(C) No.41113 of 2017 supported the arguments advanced by the petitioners. 6. A perusal of the documents produced by the petitioners reveals that their service was regularised on various dates between 2010-2014. The decision of the Council to regularise their service was ratified by the Executive Committee also. It is pertinent to note that the Council of the KSCSTE consist of the following persons; |Chief Minister|President| |---|---| |Minister for Industries|Vice President| |Minister for Finance|“| |Minister for Agriculture|“| W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -15- |Minister for Health|“| |---|---| |Minister for Education|“| |Minister for Forests|“| |Minister for Water Resources|“| |Vice Chairman, State Planning<br>Board|“| |Chief Secretary to Govt. of<br>Kerala|| |Executive Vice President|| |Secretary, Department of Science<br>and Technology, Government of<br>India|| |Vice Chancellors of Cochin<br>University of Science and<br>Technology<br>and<br>Kerala<br>Agricultural University|| |Secretary to Government, Finance<br>Department|| |Five eminent persons nationally<br>known for their expertise in<br>S&T, Industry and Environment<br>(nominated by Government)|| |Director, Vikram Sara Bai Space<br>Centre, Thiruvananthapuram|| |Director,<br>Regional<br>Research<br>Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram|| |Director, Sree Chitra Tirunal<br>Institute for Medical Sciences<br>and<br>Technology,<br>Thiruvananthapuram|| |Secretary<br>to<br>Government,<br>Planning and Economic Affairs<br>Department|| |Member Secretary (nominated by<br>Government)|| W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -16- Directors of two Science and Technology Institutions under the Council to be nominated in rotation by the President/Government As such, there is merit in the contention that the Government cannot feign ignorance about the decision taken by the Council. Moreover, Ext P2 shows that, at least in the case of the first petitioner, a proposal had been submitted to the Government seeking ratification of the appointment. As directed by the Government, the proposal was placed before the Executive Committee and the Committee ratified the Council’s decision to regularise the first petitioner's service. In such circumstances, it is doubtful whether, at a later point of time, the respondents can contend that the appointment of the petitioners is bad for want of Government approval. W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -17- 7. It is true that in Ext.P11 order sanctioning pay revision for the employees of the KSCSTE, the Government has mentioned about the disparities in the proposal submitted by the KSCSTE and has made it clear that only the categories included in the pay revision order and posts for which post creation orders were available shall be considered for revision. The posts for which sanction is accorded for revising the scale of pay is separately shown in the order. The respondents have no case that the posts held by the petitioners are not included in the order or that the petitioners' appointment were not against sanctioned posts. On the other hand, the respondents are relying on Clauses (i), (k) and (o) in Ext.P11 Government order to deny the petitioners’ claim for revision of pay. Being so, it will be beneficial to refer to W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 **==> picture [23 x 9] intentionally omitted <==** Clauses (i), (k) and (o) in EXt.P11; “(i) No creation/upgradation/abolition/redesignation of post will be done without prior Government approval. (k) No person shall be appointed (whether full time, part time, provisional, temporary, contract or daily wages) to posts created without prior Government sanction. (o) This pay revision will not be applicable to posts, if any, created without Government approval in violation of Government order read as 1[st] paper above.” A careful scrutiny of the above clauses would show that the interdiction in Clause (i) is against creation/upgradation/abolition/ re-designation of posts without prior Government approval. Clause (k) prohibits appointment of persons to posts created without prior Government sanction and Clause (o) makes it clear that pay revision will not be applicable to posts, if any created without Government approval. As already mentioned, neither the Government nor the KSCSTE W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -19- has a contention that the petitioners were not appointed against sanctioned posts. Their contention is that the petitioners were regularised without obtaining prior sanction from the Government. It is nowhere stated in Ext.P11 that pay revision will not be applicable to persons regularised without getting prior approval from the Government. As such, Ext.P12 decision of the first respondent, to keep in abeyance the revision of pay in respect of employees regularised without Government permission, is not in tune with the clauses in Ext.P11 Government order. Therefore, the first respondent is bound to have a re-look at the claim raised by the petitioners. In the result, the writ petitions are disposed of directing the first respondent to consider the issue regarding revision of pay of W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -20- the petitioners based on Ext.P11 (G.O.(MS) No.6/2017/S&TD dated 17.10.2017) expeditiously and to take a decision thereon strictly in terms of the relevant clauses in the Government order. The decision shall be taken untrammeled by the observation in Ext.P12 communication (No.610/C1/2016/KSCSTE dated 27.10.2017), after affording an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners or their chosen representative, as also the additional 5[th] respondent in W.P.(C) No.41113 of 2017. **V.G.ARUN JUDGE** Scl/ W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -21- ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 37590/2017** PETITIONER EXHIBITS EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER ISSUED BY THE CONTROLLER OF ADMINSITRATION, KERALA STATE COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT DATED 01.6.2012. EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 04.6.2012. EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DAETD 09.7.2013. EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 17.10.2017. EXHIBIT P5 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 27.10.2017. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS R4(A) A COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 22.11.2018 R4(B) A COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE 11TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE STATE COUNCIL DATED 03.10.2016 W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -22- ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 41113/2017** |PETITIONER EXHIBITS|PETITIONER EXHIBITS| |---|---| |EXHIBIT P1|TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER ISSUED BY THE| ||1ST RESPONDENT TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT| ||DATED 21-07-2006.| |EXHIBIT P2|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER LETTER ISSUED| ||BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT TO THE 1ST| ||RESPONDENT DATED 3-01-2012.| |EXHIBIT P3|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 7-01-2012| ||ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT.| |EXHIBIT P4|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 26-05-| ||2012 OF THE 3RD RESPONDENT.| |EXHIBIT P5|TRUE COPY OF THE LIST OF SANCTIONED| ||POSTS OF 1ST RESPONDENT APPROVED BY| ||THE 4TH RESPONDENT.| |EXHIBIT P6|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.G.O.| ||(MS)NO.06/2017/S&TD DATED 17-10-2017.| |EXHIBIT P7|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE 3RD| ||RESPONDENT DATED 27-10-2017.| |RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS|| |R4(A)|A COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 22.11.2018| |R4(B)|A COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE 11TH| ||ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE STATE| ||COUNCIL DATED 03.10.2016| W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -23- ## **APPENDIX OF WP(C) 1109/2018** PETITIONER EXHIBITS |EXHIBIT P1|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO| |---|---| ||59/2013/KSCSTE OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT| ||DATED 29.05.2013.| |EXHIBIT P2|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.| ||217/2014/KSCSTE OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT| ||DATED 12.11.2014| |EXHIBIT P3|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER| ||NO.189/2014/KSCSTE ISSUED BY THE 1ST| ||RESPONDENT DATED 16.10.2014| ||REGULARIZING THE ABOVE PETITIONERS IN| ||THE SERVICE OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT.| |EXHIBIT P4|TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT LETTER| ||ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED| ||29.11.2010| |EXHIBIT P5|TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY| ||THE 1ST RESPONDENT DATED 29.01.2011| |EXHIBIT P6|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.| ||108/2012/KSCSTE ISSUED BY THE 1ST| ||RESPONDENT DATED 27.07.2012.| |EXHIBIT P7|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.| ||155/2014/KSCSTE OF THE IST RESPONDENT| ||DATED 25.08.2014.| |EXHIBIT P8|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF APPOINTMENT| ||DATED 09.10.2009| |EXHIBIT P9|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.| ||2/2012/KSCSTE DATED 6.01.2012 OF THE| ||2ND RESPONDENT.| |EXHIBIT P10|TRUE COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER| ||DATED 11.01.2005| |EXHIBIT P11|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO. G.O.MS NO.| ||06/2017/ S&TD DATED 17.10.2017 WITH| ||ANNEXURE.| |EXHIBIT P12|TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER NO.| ||610/C1/2016/KSCSTE OF THE 1ST| ||RESPONDENT DATED 27.10.2017.| W.P.(C) Nos.37590 & 41113/2017 & WP.(C) No.1109/2018 -24- RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS R4(A) A COPY OF THE LETTER DATED 22.11.2018 R4(B) A COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE 11TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE STATE COUNCIL DATED 03.10.2016