JUDGEMENT

Ruma Pal, J.-Leave granted.

2. The object of scrutiny, in this judgment, is the selection of the appellant as Professor of Marine Science in the University of Goa. The appellant s selection was challenged under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by the respondent No. 5 who was himself a candidate for selection to the post. The challenge was upheld by the High Court.

3. The events which formed the basis of the High Court s decision can be said to have commenced in 1991 when the post of Professor, Marine Science fell vacant. Advertisements were issued from time to time but no candidate could be found who fulfilled the essential qualifications for the post. On 10th August 1994, an advertisement was again issued for the post of Professor, Marine Science. The hand-out distributed to the applicants prescribed the minimum qualifications as:

An eminent scholar with public work of high quality actively engaged in research with 10 years of experience in post graduate teaching and/or research at the University/National level Institution including experience of guiding research at doctoral level.

OR

An outstanding scholar with established reputation which significant contribution t