AFNAS T.P. Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners, who are Post Graduate students of various disciplines studying in the 3rd respondent-College, seek payment of stipend payable to PG Medical students.

(2.) According to the petitioners, though they joined the Course in the years 2018 and 2019 as per the allotment made by the Commissioner of Entrance Examination, they were not paid the revised stipend. The petitioners therefore seek issuance of a writ of Mandamus commanding respondents 3 and 4 to pay the revised stipend at the rate of ?43,000/- and ?44,000/- per month from the date the petitioners joined the PG Course till 30.06.2019 and then at the rate of ?53,000/- and ?54,000/- till the completion of the Course or till next revision on the basis of Exts.P2 and P5 and detailed in Ext.P8 within a time to be fixed by this Court.

(3.) The learned Standing Counsel for the 2nd respondent-Kerala University of Health Sciences filed a statement in the writ petition. The 2nd respondent stated that the Circular of Kerala University of Health Sciences directs all the Principles of all Colleges to implement the decision of the Academic Council to pay stipend to the students. The statement further proceeds to warn that non-payment of stipend will be treated seriously by the University. This Court, in Ext.P7 judgment in W.P.(C) No.21877/2017, has underlined the necessity of payment of stipend to the PG students.