Sachchidanand Jha, J.

1. The dispute in this case relates to seniority between the petitioner, Jyoti Shekhar and respondent No. 4 Dr. Hira Kant Jha (hereinafter called the respondent). The petitioner seeks quashing of the notification of the Patna University (in short the University), dated 28-5-1987 contained in Annexure-9, by which the respondent was appointed as Lecturer in Commerce on regular basis with effect from 7-2-1975. He also seeks quashing of the notifications, dated 24-6-1987 and 2-6-2000 contained in Annexures 11 and 14 respectively, by which the respondent was promoted as Reader under the time-bound scheme. By the former notification he was accorded provisional promotion in anticipation of the approval of the Bihar State University (Constituent Colleges) Service Commission; by the latter the promotion was confirmed on receipt of the recommendation of the Commission.

2. The case of the petitioner is as follows. On 14-9-1971 the respondent was appointed as Research Associate in Applied Economic and Commerce on temporary basis on a post sanctioned under the IV plan University Grants Commission (UGC) Scheme. The appointment was to continue upto end of the IV plan