Full Judgment Text
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PETITIONER:
K. KRISHNAMACHARAYULU & ORS.
Vs.
RESPONDENT:
SRI VENKATESWARA HINDU COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & ANR.
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 21/02/1997
BENCH:
K. RAMASWAMY, S. SAGHIR AHMAD
ACT:
HEADNOTE:
JUDGMENT:
O R D E R
Leave granted. Heard learned counsel for both the
parties.
This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment
of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, made on April 23, 1996
in W.A. No. 179 of 1996.
The admitted position is that the appellant and six
others had been appointed on daily wages to the post of Lab
Assistants as non-teaching staff of the respondent-private
college. They were being paid daily wages. Writ petition and
appeal seeking equal pay having been dismissed, they have
filed the present appeal for direction to pay them equal pay
for equal work on par with the other Government employees.
It is not in dispute that executive instructions issued
by the Government have given them the right to claim the pay
scales so as to be on par with the Government employees. The
question is: when there is no statutory values issued in
that behalf, and the Institution, at the relevant time,
being not in receipt of any grant-in-aid; Whether the writ
petition under Article 226 of the Constitution is not
maintainable? In view of the long line of decisions of this
Court holding that when there is a interest created by the
Government in a Institution to impart education, which is a
fundamental right of the citizens, which is a fundamental
right of the citizens, the teachers who teach the education
gets an element of public interest in the performance of
their duties. As a consequence, the element of public
interest requires to regulate the conditions of service of
those employees on bat with Government employees. In
consequence, are they also not entitled to the parity of the
pay scales as per the executive instruction so the
Government? It is not also in dispute that all the persons
who filed the writ petition along with the appellant has
later withdrawn from the writ petition and thereafter the
respondent-Management paid the salaries on par with the
Government employees. Since the appellants are insisting
upon enforcement of their right through the judicial
pressure, they need and seek the protection of law. we are
of the view that the State has obligation to provide
facilities and opportunities to the people to available of
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the right to education. The private institutions cater to
the needs of the educational opportunities. The teacher duly
appointed to a post in the private institution also is
entitled to seek enforcement of the orders issued by the
Government. The question is as to which forum on should
approach. The High Court has held that the remedy is
available under the Industrial Disputes Act. when an element
of public interest is created and the institution is
catering to the element, the teacher, the arm of the
institution is also entitled to avail of the remedy provided
under Article 226: the jurisdiction part is very wide. It
would be different position, if the remedy is a private law
remedy. so, they cannot be denied the same benefit which is
available to others. Accordingly, we hold that the writ
petition is maintainable. They are entitled to equal pay so
as to be on par with Government employees under Article
39(d) of the Constitution.
The appeal is accordingly allowed. The writ is issued.
But in the circumstances without costs.