The court upholds entitlement to appointment benefits based on age relaxation due to pandemic provisions, emphasizing governmental commitments.

JUDGMENT

Dated this the 13^th day of February, 2026 The 1^st petitioner is the Manager and the 2^nd petitioner is an UPST working in St.Albert's High School, Ernakulam. The writ petition was filed seeking the following reliefs:

“i) To call for the records leading to Exts.P4, Ext.P5, P10 and P12 orders of respondents 4, 3 and 1 and set aside the same by issuing a writ of certiorari.

ii) To issue a Writ of mandamus directing the 4^th respondent to approve the appointment of the 2^nd petitioner as UPST w.e.f. 01.10.2021 onwards on scale of pay.

iii) To declare that since 2^nd petitioner's appointment w.e.f 01.10.20-21 was in the academic year 2021- 2022 and she had not crossed the age of 43 years as on 01.01.2021 is entitled to get the benefit of upper age relaxation given by the Government vide Ext.P2 in view of the Covid 19 Pandemic.

iv) To declare that in view of Ext.P7 order of accepting the resignation of Remya John Exts.P8, P9 and P13 orders evidencing steps taken to fill up the disabled quota, and the approval given to senior appointees under the management there are no impediments in the grant of approval to the 2^nd petitioner as UPST w.e.f. 01.10.2021.

v) To issue Writ of Mandamus directing the 4^th respondent to approve the appointment of the 2^nd petitioner as UPST provisionally w.e.f. 01.10.2021 onwards with all consequential benefits.”

2. When this writ petition came up for hearing today, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that pending disposal of the writ petition, the District Educational Officer has passed Ext.P15 order dated 07.12.2025, granting substantial relief to the petitioners and therefore, the petitioners do not want to prosecute the writ petition.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of recording Ext.P15 order dated 07.12.2025 of the District Educational Officer.

Sd/-