M S M COLLEGE Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition has been filed for a direction to the 2nd respondent to grant A grade status to the petitioner's college and to sanction the non-teaching staff pattern as applicable to an A grade college. Heard the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader appearing for the respondents 1 and 2 and the learned Standing Counsel appearing for the 3rd respondent.

(2.) The short question to be considered and answered is whether the petitioner's college can be granted the status of an A grade college or not. As per the Revised Staff Pattern and Work Norms for Aided Arts & Science Colleges, Training Colleges and Arabic Colleges appended to Ext. P1 Government order dated 17.9.2004, the criteria for granting A grade are that a college should have a minimum of 20 degree courses and at least 5 post graduate courses and student strength of 1200 or more. But, as per Ext. P1(c) order dated 9.5.2008 issued by the Government, the number of courses required in A grade colleges has been refixed from 20 to 18 by way of amending Ext. P1 order. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner's college has 14 degree courses and 6 post graduate courses and hence, a total of 20 courses are there satisfying the criterion for treating that college as an A grade one. This does not appear to be correct. The criteria for granting A grade to a college prescribed under Ext. P1 read as follows: