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2026 Supreme(Jhk) 132

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
DEEPAK ROSHAN, J.
Akhileshwar Pathak S/o Late Balbhadra Pathak – Appellant
Versus
The State of Jharkhand – Respondent
W.P. (S) No. 7480 of 2017
Decided On : 13-03-2026

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Rajeev Ranjan Tiwary
For the Respondents: Ashutosh Anand, Ashok Singh

Eligibility for absorption and pay revisions requires documented qualifications and adherence to procedural norms; claims without proper recommendations or evidence are unvalid.

Headnote:(A) Bihar Universities Act, 1976 - Section 4(1)(14) - Writ petition challenging order for correction of absorption date and pay revisions - Claim rejected due to lack of qualifications and procedural adherence for absorption - The petitioner was absorbed post-verification as listed from a cut-off date, but without proper documentation for prior claims. (Paras 2-6)

(B) Absorption and Employment Rights - Entitlement is contingent upon the proper recommendations and qualification as per Supreme Court directives - Those appointees against posts without valid recommendations post cut-off are ineligible for absorption. (Paras 6-21)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner was first appointed in October 1985, with absorption recognized from February 1988; previous commissions had directed provisional absorption subject to verification, leading to disputes about qualification and procedural integrity. (Paras 4-5)

Findings of Court:
The Hon'ble Justice S.B. Sinha (Retd.) Commission's orders were upheld, confirming the petitioner’s claim lacked legal foundation regarding earlier absorption. The Court found no evidence supporting the claim for earlier remuneration adjustments. (Paras 11-12)

Issues: Whether the earlier absorption date could be corrected, and if the claimant was entitled to pay revisions given qualifications and procedural rules. (Paras 2-3)

Ratio Decidendi: The Court emphasized the necessity of appropriate recommendations and qualifications for employment claims, in line with Supreme Court guidance. It was determined that claims unsupported by sufficient legal or procedural basis are unmeritorious. (Paras 21-22)

Result: Writ petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. petitioner challenges past commission orders. (Para 2 , 4)
2. arguments presented by both parties. (Para 5 , 6)
3. court affirms commission's rejection of claims. (Para 7 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 17 , 19)
4. legal authority of commission limited by past rulings. (Para 8 , 13 , 20)
5. writ petition dismissed; opportunity for reapplication. (Para 22)

JUDGMENT :

DEEPAK ROSHAN, J.

1. Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. The instant writ application has been preferred by the petitioner primarily challenging the order dated 18.03.2015 passed by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha (Retd.) Commission by reason of which the claim of the petitioner for correction of date of his absorption on the post of ‘Lecturer’ in the University has been rejected and further for grant of 5th and 6th pay revision which the petitioner claims to be entitled.

The petitioner further has prayed for quashing of the order dated 09.05.2015, whereby the petition preferred by the petitioner for recalling the order dated 18.03.2015 was rejected.

The petitioner has also prayed for quashing of the other consecutive order dated 18.12.2015, passed by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha (Retd.) Commission arising out of other petition for recalling the aforesaid order dated 18.03.2015 on the ground of retirement of one ‘Shambhu Nath Mishra’ which was also rejected.

Lastly, the petitioner has prayed for a direction upon the respondents to correct the date of absorption as well as grant benefits of 5th and 6th pay revision.

3. Earlier also, one writ petition being W.P.(S) no. 4197/2009 was filed by the petitioner, which stand dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 03.01.2018. Issues as were raised in the earlier writ petition i.e. W.P.(S) no. 4197/2009 was for correction of petitioner’s date of absorption as well as to grant the benefits of 5th and 6th pay revision. However, after knowing about ongoing Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.B. Sinha (Retd.) Commission considering the cases of University Teachers, which was earlier subject to verification by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.C. Agrawal (Retd.) Commission, the petitioner withdraws his writ to approach the Commission for redressal of his grievance.

4. Necessary facts related to the petitioner as per the pleadings is that he was appointed by the Governing Body in its meeting dated 07.10.1985 on the post of Lecturer in the Department of Sanskrit in Markham College of Commerce, Hazaribagh. Appointment letter was issued on 07.10.1985 and accordingly the petitioner joined on 07.10.1985 (Annexure-1 series of the writ petition). The siad College was one of the colleges, which by the decision of the then State of Bihar of 1986 was taken over as constituent unit of the University. The College was taken over by the Government vide its decision dated 19.08.1986 and thereafter, agreement was entered into between the College, Management & employee Associations of the University under section 4(1)(14) of the Bihar Universities Act, 1976.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner made following submissions:

a) Disputes regarding sanctioned posts and validity of staff appointments in certain colleges led to vigilance inquiries, prompting employees to form the Bihar Rajya Mahavidyalaya Shikshak and Shikshakettar Karmchari Kalyan Mahasangh, which filed C.W.J.C. No. 4021/1995 before the Patna High Court seeking regularisation of services of teachers of 4th phase colleges.

b) The Patna High Court directed Universities to consider regularisation under Section 4(14) of the Bihar Universities Act, 1976, which was challenged by the State before the Hon’ble Supreme Court, leading to the constitution of the Justice S.C. Agrawal Commission to examine disputes relating to absorption of employees.

c) The Agrawal Commission report included the petitioner’s name in Annexure III-A and Annexure IV-A, showing that he was working prior to the cut-off date against a recommended post, following which the Supreme Court accepted the report and directed Universities to pass

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