NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL  NO(S). 2267/2018

(ARISING FROM SLP (C) NO.21066/2017)

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY             APPELLANT(S)                                 VERSUS DR. V.N. RAJASEKHARAN PILLAI & ORS.                 RESPONDENT(S)

J U D G M E N T KURIAN, J.

Leave granted. 2. The  appellant  is  before  this  Court,  aggrieved  by  the interim order passed by the High Court of Kerala in W.P.(C) No.18255/2015 which was confirmed by the Division Bench in an appeal  vide  impugned  order  dated  11.04.2017  passed  in  W.A. No.703 of 2017. 3. The issue pertains to the claim made by Respondent No.1 for counting  his  service  under  the  appellant  towards  pensionary benefits.  Since, the writ petition itself is pending before the High Court, we do not propose to go into the various contentions raised by the learned Additional Solicitor General of India as well  as  the  learned  counsel  appearing  for  Respondent  No.1. These are all contentions on merits, to be considered by the High Court while disposing of the writ petition. 4. Accordingly, this appeal is disposed of. 5. We request the High Court to dispose of the writ petition expeditiously and being a matter relating to pension, preferably within six months from today. 6. Till the final orders are passed on the writ petition, the interim order passed by this Court on 28.08.2017 will continue to operate. 7. We make it clear that we have not considered the matter on merits and it will be open to the parties to take all available contentions before the High Court.

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8. The parties are permitted to file additional documents, if any, before the High Court. 9. Pending applications, if any, shall stand disposed of. 10. There shall be no orders as to costs.

..........................J.               [KURIAN JOSEPH]  

..........................J.               [MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR ]  

NEW DELHI; FEBRUARY 19, 2018.

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