JUDGMENT :

SUDHANSHU DHULIA, J.

1. Heard Mr. D. Das, learned senior counsel for the appellants in Writ Appeal No. 3/2020 assisted by Mr. P.K. Deka, learned counsel and K.N. Chowdhury, learned senior counsel for the appellants in Writ Appeal No. 254/2019 and Writ Appeal No. 321/2019, assisted by Mr. R.M. Deka, learned counsel. Also heard Mr. K. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Technical Education for the State respondents.

2. This Court has been informed that appellant No. 3 in Writ Appeal No. 3/2020, namely, Sri. Rois Uddin Ahmed has passed away on 18.04.2021 during the pendency of the appeal and, therefore, his name be deleted from the array of the parties. The name of Sri. Rois Uddin Ahmed, appellant No. 3 is hereby deleted from the array of parties.

3. All these writ appeals have been filed challenging the common judgment and order dated 28.08.2019 passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P. (C) No. 348/2016 and W.P. (C) No. 1721/2016. The main issue before the learned Single Judge was whether Ph.D. is a necessary qualification for appointment/promotion to the post of Principal i