The statutory governing board must adhere to its own rules for appointing candidates, and external circulars lacking formal adoption cannot supersede established qualifications.

JUDGMENT :

SHREE PRAKASH SINGH, J.

1. On 5.12.2025, the following order was passed:-

"Mr. Uttam Kumar Verma, learned counsel for the respondent nos. 3 to 6 and Mr. Pradeep Kumar Singh, learned counsel appearing for the State are directed to seek detailed instructions in the matter.

List this matter on 9.12.2025 as fresh."

2. In-compliance of the aforesaid, Mr. Uttam Kumar Verma, learned counsel for the respondent-university has placed the seriatim of the orders and the action taken thereof by the Board of Management as well as the Chancellor, stating it to be the instructions, which is taken on record.

3. Heard Mr. Vikas Vikram Singh and Mr. Rajat Gangwar, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. Uttam Kumar Verma, counsel for the respondent- university, Mr. Shailendra Kumar Singh, Chief Standing Counsel assisted by Mr. P.K. Singh, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State.

4. By means of the present petition, the petitioners have assailed the minutes of emergency meeting of Board of Management dated 19.11.2025 of Chandra Shekhar Azad University Of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur(hereinafter, referred to as University) as well as the letter dated 19.11.2025, by which the resolution of the board of management was placed before the State Government for its approval.

5. The contentions put forth by learned counsel appearing for the petitioners is that the respondent-university is governed under the Uttar Pradesh (Krishi Evam Prodyogik Vishwavidyalaya) Adhiniyam, 1958(hereinafter, referred to as Act 1958). He submits that in the year 2014, the respondent-university invited applications for appointment against the number of teaching posts in the University by issuing advertisement nos. 1/2014, 3/2014 and 5/2014 and the advertisement no. 5/2014 was for appointment on the post of Program Coordinator for Krishi Vigyan Kendra(KVK). He added that the educational qualification was prescribed in the advertisement itself, which was approved by the Board of Management of the University, in its 150th meeting and in the agenda of Board meeting. The minimum eligibility criteria were proposed, in proposal no. 10 and was approved by the Board's Meeting and the same is still intact as that has never been assailed or revoked by any authority of law or person.

6. Further, submission is that the petitioners, who holds Master of Science in Agriculture & Horticulture degree and Doctorate in Horticulture, being fully qualified applied for consideration of the post of Program Coordinator, in furtherance to the advertisement no. 5/2014 and an interview letter was issued to the petitioners on 06.12.2014 and in furtherance thereof, they appeared before the selection committee on 23.12.2014 and the selection committee, after due consideration, recommended the name of the petitioners for appointment, which was to be placed before the Board of Management, scheduled on 31.12.2014, but a day prior to the said date, due to some complaint, the Chancellor passed the order through its Principal Secretary, whereby, the meeting of the Board of Management, which was scheduled on 31.12.2014 was kept in abeyance, until further orders and the selection proceedings were also suspended. He added that along with advertisement no. 5/2014, advertisement nos. 1/2014 & 3/2014 were also issued and in that respect, complaints were also made with respect to irregularities and corrupt practices against the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Munna Singh, whereafter, on 05.05.2015, a three-member enquiry commit