SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2007 Supreme(SC) 1380

Supreme Court Of India
BALAKRUSHNA BEHERA - Appellant
Versus
SATYA PRAKASH DASH - Respondent
SLP (C) 4179 Of 2006
Decided On : 10/22/2007
Advocates Appeared :
B.K.PATNAIK, Jana Kalyan Das, JANARANJAN DAS, RUTWIK PANDA, SWETAKETU MISHRA

A selection does not confer an indefeasible right to appointment, and the approval of the State Government is required for appointments as per the second proviso to Statute 4(1) of the Utkal University of Culture First Statute, 2001.

Headnote:

Contempt - University Selection Process - Utkal University of Culture - Statute 4(3), Statute 4(1) - The court discussed the applicability of the second proviso to Statute 4(1) of the Utkal University of Culture First Statute, 2001, which required the approval of the State Government for appointments. The court also referred to the Constitution Bench decision in Shankarsan Dash v. Union of India, (1991) 3 SCC 47, to establish that a selection does not confer an indefeasible right to appointment. The court concluded that the respondent could not claim a right to the post as the State Government had abolished the posts, and therefore, no contempt of court was made out against the appellants.

Fact of the Case:

The respondent filed a writ petition against Utkal University of Culture, seeking a mandamus to complete the selection process for the post of Lecturer. Contempt proceedings were initiated against the appellants for alleged disobedience of the court's judgment.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the respondent did not have an indefeasible right to the post as the State Government had abolished the posts, and therefore, no contempt of court was made out against the appellants.

Issues: The main issue was whether the court could direct the State government to appoint a person against a post abolished by the State Government, and whether the appellants were in contempt of court for not appointing the respondent.

Ratio Decidendi: The court established that a selection does not confer an indefeasible right to appointment and referred to the second proviso to Statute 4(1) of the Utkal University of Culture First Statute, 2001, which required the approval of the State Government for appointments. The court concluded that the respondent could not claim a right to the post as the State Government had abolished the posts, and therefore, no contempt of court was made out against the appellants.

Final Decision: The court set aside the impugned orders and discharged the notice of contempt against the appellants, allowing the appeal.

( 1 ) HEARD learned counsel for the parties.

( 2 ) LEAVE granted.

( 3 ) THIS appeal is directed against the judgment and orders dated 24-1-2006 and 27-1-2006 of the High Court of Orissa whereby contempt proceedings were initiated against the appellants herein and they were directed to be present in Court for further proceeding in the matter of Contempt.

( 4 ) THE brief facts necessary for the disposal of the present appeal are that the respondent herein filed a writ petition against the Utkal University of Culture and sought a mandamus that the University be directed to complete the entire selection process for the post of Lecturer in South and South East Asian Studies. The Division bench of the High Court vide order dated 10-3-2005 disposed of the writ petition and directed that "it is a fit case where the opposite parties should be directed by issuing a writ in the nature of mandamus to complete the entire process of selection and publish the result. " The Court accordingly issued a writ in the nature of mandamus commanding opposite parties 1 and 2 to complete the entire process of selection and publish the result in respect of the post of Lecturer in South and South East asian Studies within a period of two months from the date of communication of the said order. It was further observed that "it was needless to mention that after declaration of the result, consequences to follow by opposite parties 1 and 2".

( 5 ) AFTER passing of the said order, the same allegedly having not been complied with by the University authorities within the time stipulated, a contempt petition was filed by the respondent herein (writ petitioner before the High Court ). In reply to the contempt petition, the appellants herein (the Registrar and Vice-Chancellor of the University) stated that in view of Statute 4 (3) of the Utkal University of Culture first Statute, 2001 since the Board of Management differed from the recommendation of the Selection Committee, the matter had to be referred to the Chancellor of the University. In the meantime, the High Court issued notice for contempt of Court for alleged disobedience of its judgment dated 10-3-2005, but in view of the results having been published, the contempt proceedings were dropped. It is alleged that despite the selection of the respondent herein, no appointment letter was issued to the respondent. Hence, he filed yet another contempt petition on which the impugned orders dated 24-1-2006 and 27-1-2006 were passed. By the said orders the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the University were directed to be personally present in court.

( 6 ) THE plea taken by the appellants herein in the reply to show cause was that as per the second proviso to Statute 4 (1) of the Utkal University of Culture First Statute, 2001, all appointments have to be approved by the State Government. The secnd proviso to Statute 4 (1) of the Utkala University of Culture First Statute, 2001 reads as under:

"provided further that the appointment of all the teaching faculties including Professors, deans, Experts and Consultants are subject to availability of funds and on prior approval of administrative department and Finance Department of State Government. "

( 7 ) THE State Government took the stand that in view of the restructuring/reorganizing of the whole set up the posts of Lecturer in South and South East Asian studies have been abolished and therefore the respondent herein could not be appointed to the said post. The appellants herein of course wrote to the State Government for grant of approval for their appointment and funds for the said posts but the state Government declined to grant approval and abolished the posts and consequently no appointments could be made to the said post. Thereafter, the Division bench by the impugned order dated 24-1-2006 directed the Registrar and Vice-Chancellor of the University (appellants herein) to be present in Court on 27-1-2006.

( 8 ) AGGRIEVED against the impugned orders date





Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top