TRIBHUVAN DAHIYA, J.

This petition has been filed seeking a writ of certiorari quashing Clause/paragraph 11 of ‘Policy guidelines regarding engaging Eligible Extension Lecturers in Govt. Colleges purely on work requirement basis’, dated 04.03.2020 (Annexure P-2), and a direction to the respondents to pay the petitioners, who are retired eligible teachers, monthly remuneration at par with the eligible serving teachers/extension lecturers at the rate of Rs.57,700, instead of Rs.35,400, with effect from 01.01.2021 with interest at the rate of 18% per annum.

2. The facts of the case in brief are, the petitioners superannuated from service as Associate Professors in the subject of Punjabi, after serving the respondent-Higher Education Department for more than 21 years. Petitioner No.1 retired from service on 30.06.2019, and petitioner No.2 retired on 31.05.2019.

2.1. The respondents have a policy of engaging extension lecturers in government colleges on temporary basis. The petitioners, being eligible, applied for being so engaged. They are Ph.D holders and have also qualified National Eligibility Test (NET) held by the University Grants Commission (UGC); their testimonials have been attac