SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Gyan Sudha Misra, J. Chelameswar, JJ.
State of Rajasthan and Anr. - Petitioners
Versus
Milap Chand Jain and Anr. Etc. - Respondents
Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 20363-20368 of 2013 (C.C. Nos. 7465-7470 of 2012) with Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 20386-20390 of 2013 (C.C. Nos. 8287-8291 of 2012), Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 20373-20377 of 2013 (C.C. Nos. 8403-8407 of 2012), Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 20379-20383 of 2013 (C.C. Nos. 8464-8468 of 2012), Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 20378 of 2013 (C.C. No. 19503 of 2012), Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 34866 of 2012, Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 20812 of 2013 (C.C. No. 9200 of 2013), Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 14952 of 2013 and Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. C.C. No. 9440 of 2013
Decided On : 1-5-2013
Constitution of India - University Grants Commission - Special leave petitions – No Discriminatory Treatment – Petitions were filed by Petitioner-State challenging same order which was subject matter of challenge in previous special leave petitions obvious that a fresh batch of special leave petitions against impugned judgment and order against which special leave petitions were dismissed, cannot be entertained by a coordinate Bench unless the coordinate Bench were inclined to take a different view and were to refer matter to a larger Bench – Held, University Grants Commission and the State has to add is not open for the State to urge that it will not bear financial liability specially when its plea already stands rejected – Petitioner-State at all had any reason to deny this claim in spite of the entitlement of Respondent-teachers, State in the first place should not have accepted grant from University Grants Commission observations have been recorded herein merely in interest of fairness and justice to parties as these special leave petitions are fit to be dismissed solely on the ground of parity as High Court had also refused to entertain writ appeals on the ground of parity which clearly implies that any other view different from the one taken earlier is bound to result into unjust and discriminatory treatment which we cannot permit to prevail – petition is dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
SLP(C).. C.C. Nos. 7465-7470/2012, 8287-8291/2012, 8403-8407/2012, 8464-8468/2012, 19503/2012, SLP(C) No. 34866/2012, C.C. No. 9200/2013, SLP(C) No. 14952/2013.
1. Delay condoned.
2. This batch of special leave petitions are directed against the judgment and order of the High Court of Rajasthan dated 29.11.2011 by which the appeals filed by the Petitioner-State of Rajasthan were rejected by the Division Bench observing therein that the Apex Court has already dismissed the appeal of the State against the impugned judgment and order dated 10.3.2011. This order was passed by this Court in a batch of petitions (C.A. Nos. 469 of 2007 and C.A. No. 470 of 2007). Thereafter, the Petitioner-State filed review petitions against the order dated 10.3.2011 passed in the aforesaid petitions in which they also raised the grounds on the merit of the matter but the review petitions were also dismissed.
3. Thereafter, instant batch of special leave petitions were filed by the Petitioner-State challenging the same order which was the subject matter of challenge in the previous special leave petitions. But it is obvious that a fresh batch of special leave petitions against the impugned judgment and order against which special leave petitions were dismissed, cannot be entertained by a coordinate Bench unless the coordinate Bench were inclined to take a different view and were to refer the matter to a larger Bench.
4. Having heard the counsel for the parties, we are of the view that although the question of law was allowed to be kept open in the earlier matter, no discriminatory treatment should be meted out to another set of teachers who were affected by one and the same order of the State of Rajasthan, wherein the order of the State was set aside by the High Court and one batch of special leave petitions against the same as also Review were dismissed. The implication of the observation in regard to the fact that the question of law was allowed to be kept open obviously was meant to be urged in a matter arising out of a subsequent event in which a similar question arose.
5. Insofar as these special leave petitions are concerned, that is not the situation as the special leave petitions have been filed by the Petitioner-State of Rajasthan against the same impugned order, which was the subject matter of challenge in the earlier appeals, as already stated hereinabove. We are further conscious of the fact that if a view different from the earlier order was to be taken by this Court for any reason whatsoever, appropriate reasons could be assigned in this regard. But if a similar view is taken, then dismissing one set of the batch of matters but allowing the other set, is bound to result into unjust discrimination to the same class of persons. Apart from the fact that, we see no ground to differ from the view taken earlier, we have been informed that the financial implication of the payment towards Carrier Advancement Scheme is borne by the University Grants Commission to the extent of 80% and only 20% is to be borne by the Petitioner-State. If the Petitioner-State has accepted the grant to the extent of 80% from the University Grants Commission and the State has to add 20%, it is not open for the State to urge that it will not bear the 20% financial liability specially when its plea already stands rejected. If the Petitioner-State at all had any reason to deny this claim in spite of the entitlement of the Respondent-teachers, the State in the first place should not have accepted 80% grant from the University Grants Commission. These observations have been recorded herein merely in the interest of fairness and justice to the parties as these special leave petitions are fit to be dismissed solely on the ground of parity as the High Court had also refused to entertain the writ appeals on the ground of parity which clearly implies that any other view different from the one taken earlier is bound to result into unjust and discriminatory treatment which
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