STATE OF KERALA Vs. C. SREENIVASAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since common questions arise for consideration in these Original Petitions, they are accordingly heard and decided together. O.P. (KAT) No. 317 of 2019 and O.P. (KAT) N0.300 of 2019 arise from a common order dtd. 31/7/2018 in O.A (EKM) No.814 of 2014 and O.A (EKM) No.833 of 2014, O.P. (KAT) No.325 of 2019 arises from order dtd. 6/2/2019 in O.A (EKM) No.49 of 2019 and O.P. (KAT) No.335 of 2019 arises from order dtd. 6/2/2019 in O.A (EKM) No.51 of 2019, all decided by the Kerala Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam Bench. For the sake of convenience, parties will be referred to in this judgment as they are arrayed in the O.A. It will be profitable to state the brief facts of each case dealt with in this judgment.

(2.) The applicants are all Asst. Professors in Government Colleges who are aggrieved by the non-consideration of their prior service in the same cadre in the Government controlled self -financing colleges for placement under the Career Advancement Scheme as per the UGC Scheme.

(3.) The Government issued Annexure A1 order G.O. (P) No. 171/99 dtd. 21/12/1999 by which the UGC Scheme including revision of scale of pay of teachers in Universities, affiliated colleges, Engineering Colleges, etc., was brought into force w.e.f, 1/1/1996. Paragraph 4.1 of Annexure A1 says that the revised UGC Scheme 1998 will be implemented in the State with effect from 1/1/1996. Paragraph 5.1 of Annexure A1 deals with scale of pay. Paragraph 6.20 deals with Career Advancement, which reads as follows: