2005 Supreme(All) 2462
[2006(1) ADJ 438 (All)(DB)]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
(Division Bench)
BEFORE : V.M. SAHAI AND BARKAT ALI ZAIDI, JJ.
Dr. VIRENDRA KUMAR SINGH ..........Petitioner
Versus
VICE-CHANCELLOR, MAHATAMA JOTIBA PHULE
ROHILKHAND UNIVERSITY, BAREILLY AND OTHERS ......Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 74061 of 2005,
decided on 16th December, 2005)
Counsel :
Indra Mani Tripathi for the Petitioner; Govind Saran for the Respondents.
Headnote:Appointment—Lecturer in Botany—On contract basis—Right to continue on post after expiry of contract period—Determination of—Petitioner appointed on contract basis for three years, continued in his job for a year more without any proper authority—Claim continuation on such post—When an appointment is made for a fixed period on the basis of contract, such appointment comes to an automatic termination after expiry of contract period—Mere fact that he had worked for one more year, would not entitle him to continue in service. [Paras 5 and 6]
Hon’ble B.A. Zaidi, J.—The petitioner, who is a lecturer in Botany in degree college at Pilibhit, of which the respondent No. 2 happens to be the Principal and the respondent No. 3 District Magistrate the Controller, was hired on contract basis for 3 years vide advertisement dated 3.6.2001 (Annexure-1 to the writ petition) who joined on 6.8.2001 vide appointment letter dated 6.8.2001 (Annexure-2 to the writ petition). After expiry of 3 yeans, he some-how continues in his job for a year more and continues to receive his salary.
2. Subsequently, after advertisement dated 21.6.2005 (Annexure-5 to the writ petition) another candidate, a lady Km. Ruchi Chandra, respondent No. 4 was selected for Lecturer in Botany (on same post) for a 3 years term and has been given appointment on 15.10.2005 (Annexure-10 to the writ petition).
3. The petitioner says that he is entitled to work as a Lecturer and receive his salary. His services cannot come to an end. The appointment of respondent No. 4 is illegal and she cannot be permitted to work on the post of Lecturer in Botany and with these prayers, he has come up before us by filing this writ petition.
4. We have heard Sri Indra Mani Tripathi, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Govind Saran learned counsel for the respondent No. 1.
5. The contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the respondent No. 4 has not been selected as a regular Lecturer and she has been selected for a 3 years term, which is illegal and since the petitioner continues to work for another year subsequent to expiry of his 3 years term, he is entitled to continue in service. The argument is based on some unusual logic because the appointment of the petitioner was on contract basis for 3 years, and came, to an automatic termination after the lapse of the stipulated period. The mere fact that he has worked for one more year or so thereafter and has received his salary, does not give him a lien on the post, and does not entitle him to continue in service or to be regularised thereafter. The counsel for the petitioner has relied on Hon. Supreme Court’s pronouncement in case of Rattanlal v. State of Haryana, AIR 1987 SC 478 and has specifically referred to following observations :
“These ad hoc teachers are unnecessarily subjected to an arbitrary hiring and firing’ policy. These teachers who constitute the bulk of the educated unemployed are compelled to accept these jobs on an ad hoc basis with miserable conditions of service. The Government appears to be exploiting this situation. This is not a sound personnel policy. It is bound to have serious repercussions the educational institutions and the children studying there. The policy of ‘ad hocism’ followed by the State Government for a long period has led to the breach of Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution. Such a situation cannot be permitted to last any longer”.
What has been observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in connection with ad hoc teachers has no application in respect of appointments made on contractual basis.
6. When an appointment is made for a fixed term on the basis of contract between Teacher and Management, the term of the teacher comes to an automatic termination after expiry of contract period, because the parties are bound by the contract and they should be made to abide by the terms of the contract. The petitioner will not, therefore, acquire any rights to continue in service till a regularly selected candidates steps in.
7. The counsel for the petitioner repeatedly emphasized and stated that the petitioner continues to serve as a Lecturer in Botany even now after expiry of 3 years period and his services have not been terminated and that he was given extension of one year. There is no order of one year extension on the record, as argued by the counsel for the petitioner, and if the petitioner continues to serve after the expiry of his contractual period, he does not acquire any right to continue as a lecturer. The simple fa