IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Mridula Mishra, J.
Navin Kumar, S/o Late Patwari Yadav, resident of village Govindpur, P.S. Pirpaiti, District Bhagalpur, Bihar
Dr. Amaredra Narayan Singh, Late Yogendra Narayan Singh, resident of Q. No. P-8, Professor’s Colony, Lalbagh, Sarai, P.S.-Kotwali, District – Bhagalpur, presently posted as Principal, Murarkar College, Sultanganj & Ors. - Petitioners
Versus
The State of Bihar through Secretary, Higher Education, Government of Bihar, Patna & Ors.
The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Human Resources Development Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna & Ors. - Respondents
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2103, 12195 of 2009
Decided on : 8.9.2011
Appointment - Principals - Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, Section 57(8), Section 10(12) - The court discussed the appointment of Principals under the Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, and the alleged illegalities in the selection process. It highlighted the provisions of the Act, the revised statute, and the reservation policy of the State applicable to appointments. The court found the appointment of 16 Principals to be completely illegal and quashed the notification. It also dismissed the plea for payment of salary to the appointed Principals.
Fact of the Case:
Two writ applications were filed challenging the appointment of 16 Principals under the Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, and the alleged illegalities in the selection process. The petitioners sought the quashing of the appointment notification and the payment of salary to the appointed Principals.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the appointment of 16 Principals to be completely illegal and quashed the notification. It dismissed the plea for payment of salary to the appointed Principals, as their appointment itself was held to be illegal.
Issues: The issues revolved around the legality of the appointment process, the constitution of the Selection Committee, observance of perfunctory selection process, violation of the provisions under the revised statute, and the violation of the reservation policy of the State applicable to appointments.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the appointment of 16 Principals was completely illegal due to several irregularities and illegalities in the selection process, including the constitution of the Selection Committee, violation of the reservation policy, and the allocation of marks in violation of the statute.
Final Decision: The court allowed one writ application, quashing the appointment notification, and directed the re-initiation of the selection process as provided under the revised statute and the amended Section 57(1) of the Act. The other writ application was dismissed, denying the plea for payment of salary to the appointed Principals.
Two writ applications have been filed for interconnected reliefs as such these are heard analogous and being disposed of by a common ORDER :.
2. C.W.J.C. No. 2103 of 2009 has been filed by Navin Kumar, a senior lecturer in the Post Graduate Department of Geography in the Veer Kunwar Singh University, Ara, who had applied for the post of Principal pursuant to Advertisement No. 02/07, published by Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, but could not be selected, as alleged by him due to illegality observed in selection process. Petitioner has challenged the appointment of 16 persons as Principals of constituent colleges under Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, made in exercise of powers under Section 57(8) of Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, read with Section 10(12) of the Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, on recommendation of the University Selection Committee constituted under the provisions of statute dated 30.6.2008. Appointments have been made vide Notification No. 04-19/08/CCDC dated 29.9.2008 issued under the signature of CCDC, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University. The prayer of the petitioner is for quashing of notification of appointment Annexure-5 to the writ application, on the ground that – selection has been made pursuant to perfunctory and shame selection procedure and in violation of the provisions of Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, statute dated 30.6.2008 issued by the Chancellor of the University of Bihar under 1976 Act, – reservation policy of State applicable in such appointment, and illegal exercise of emergency powers of Vice-chancellor as provided under Section 10(12) of the Act, despite the fact that meeting of syndicate was held on that very day by which notification for appointment had been issued, but it was not included in the agenda. Matter of appointment was completely suppressed from the syndicate, the highest executive body of the University, and syndicate was bypassed and till date its’ approval has not been taken, though mandatory, in case notification had been issued in exercise of emergency powers of Vice-Chancellor under Section 10(12) of the Act.
3. C.W.J.C. No. 12195 of 2009 has been filed by Principals, appointed vide Notification No. 04-19/08/CCDC dated 29.9.2008, for quashing of letter No. 1621 dated 7.9.2009 issued by the Human Resources Development Department informing the Registrar of the Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University that the Government has decided to conduct an enquiry into the matters of appointment of Principals and till the date opinion of the Department in this regard is not issued, payment of salary to such appointed Principals shall remain stayed. Petitioners have also prayed for quashing of letter No. 1627 dated 7.9.2009 issued by the Human Resources Development Department informing the Registrar of the University that all appointments made during the tenure of the then Vice-chancellor would remain stayed.
4. Advertisement No. 02/07 and 03/07 were published under the signature of Registrar of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University in the month of September, 2007, inviting applications for appointment on the post of Principal in different constituent colleges under the University in the scales of Reader as well as University Professor. Eligible candidates including writ petitioners in both the writ applications applied for consideration of their candidature for appointment against the post of Principal. Petitioner Navin Kumar’s case is that despite submission of applications by the candidates within the stipulated time, no further steps were taken for appointment, even Selection Committee had not been constituted. In the meantime, Chancellor’s letter No. BSU-23/07-2187 GS (1) dated 30.6.2008 was issued, whereby amendment was brought in Section 57(1) of Bihar State Universities Act, 1976 and Amended 2007 Act.
5. Power of appointment to the post of Teacher and other officials of Universities under Bihar State Universities Act, 1976 was initially vested in Bihar
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