JUDGMENT :

[P.B. Suresh Kumar, J.]

1. These writ appeals arise from the common judgment in two writ petitions, namely, W.P.(C) Nos.17442 and 17769 of 2022. As the writ petitions were disposed of by a common judgment, the appeals are also disposed of by this common judgment. Parties and documents are referred to in this judgment, unless otherwise mentioned, as they appear in W.P.(C) No.17769 of 2022.

2. The matter relates to the age of superannuation of teachers of private colleges affiliated to various Universities in the State covered by the Direct Payment Scheme of the State Government. The first petitioner in W.P.(C) No.17769 of 2022 is an association of Principals of affiliated to private colleges and the second petitioner is one of the members of the first petitioner association. The petitioners in W.P.(C) No.17442 of 2022 are Professors working in various private colleges in the State.

3. During 1998, the University Grants Commission (the UGC) notified a scheme for revision of pay scales, minimum qualifications for appointment and other service conditions of University and college teachers. The said scheme (the UGC Scheme) provided that the teachers will retire only at the ag