1. The Writ Petition has been filed seeking to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents 3 to 7 from reducing the stipend payable to the DNB (Diploma of National Board) students on the basis of the proceedings of the 4th respondent dated 31.10.2014 and pay monthly stipends to DNB students, Rs. 63,654/- for the first year, Rs. 65,521/- for the second year and Rs. 68,446/- for the third year.

2. The case of the petitioners is as follows:

(a) The petitioners 1 and 2 have passed MBBS whereas the petitioners 3 and 4 have passed MBBS and D-Ortho and all of them have joined the Southern Railway Headquarters Hospital, Perambur to undergo three years Broad Specialty Course in Orthopedics pursuant to the Centralized All India Entrance Examinations conducted by the National Board of Examinations. They have joined the Course during August-September, 2016. The petitioners 1 and 2 were paid a stipend of Rs. 25,000/- whereas the petitioners 3 and 4 were Rs. 27,000/-.

(b) While so, on 31.10.2014, a communication had been sent to the Railway Hospital and other authorities stating that the competent authority in the Ministry of Railways decided to adopt the modified fee and stipend gu