JUDGMENT :

P.B. SURESH KUMAR, J.

1. This writ appeal is directed against the judgment dated 21.1.2021 in W.P. (C) No. 8647 of 2020. The appellant was the petitioner in the writ petition. Parties and documents are referred to in this judgment, unless otherwise mentioned, as they appear in the writ petition.

2. The matter relates to the selection for appointment to the post of Assistant Professor in Philosophy in the University of Kerala (the University). In terms of Ext.P1 notification, the University invited applications from eligible and qualified candidates for appointment against the sole vacancy. The qualifications required were as prescribed by the University Grants Commission (the UGC) in the UGC Regulations on Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and Other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education, 2010 (the Regulations). It was specified in the notification that besides fulfilling the qualifications, the candidates must have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET). It was, however, clarified that candidates who are, or have been awarded a Ph.D degree in accordance with the UGC (Minimum Standa